Bcg

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My husband has had bladder cancer for about 3 years and they have only done cystoscopes and removed the areas and they were only superficial but this last scope showed it may be a high-grade malignancy and some muscle involvement. We are opting for the chemo bcg but my husband is 91 years old and other than the bladder cancer is in good health. I was hoping someone could tell me some of the side effects and how their life was affected and maybe someone has tried another drug or treatment. I would appreciate any help I can get. Most Dr's look at my husbands age and think he is too old, but he is not that age in his and thinking and getting around and doing things. Thank you

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Rose_123

Hi, We did the bgc in Nov. through Dec. last year. It was not a harmful therapy. It was irritating and we had to clorox the bathroom for a time while the stuff was working. It was a last ditch effort for us. We had the bladder removed in April. He is dong well and we are ok with the appliances we have to use. He is only 57 One of the men who had surgery at the time we did was 91. He had a wonderful family. We got close to that family too. Rose

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Person

rose123 I appreciate you returning a answer to my message about bcg. My husband is the 91 year old with bladder cancer. We are going to try bcg first and if that doesn't work than we will have to decide if he can with stand the surgery. We live in Indiana but are close to Chicago so if he has to have surgery we can go there. Did that 91 year old man that had the surgery come thru it alright and doing o.k. ? I'm glad your husband is doing alright. My prayers are with him and your family. When my husband gets the bcg what precautions does he have to take? I know the Doctor will explain it all but it is nice to know a few things before we talk to him . Thank You and take care

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Rose_123

Hi Betty It is irritating but nothing more than that. But my husband is 57. It is said that it can be like a mild flu to the muscles-flu like feelings. This was minor and if he felt it at all it was three days or less. For two hours after the insertion of the bcg, one cannot use the public restroom. The urine in the stool has to have clorox in the water and set for 15 minutes before flushing. If you are traveling you have to carry a can and then disinfect that when you get home. It sounds worse than you would think ... it isn't too bad. Just awkward. I would also add super nutrition to help him. As much as he would be willing to take. This is supposed to build his immune system ie kick it in gear. Well we didn't do enough and we didn't get it kick in gear enough. See what is suggested for this through cancercenter. We should have used cq 10, barley greens. super multivitamin mineral , c, and more. More than I can write here. The older man had cancer outside of his bladder and I don't know how he is doing now. We got to love him but lost contact after we left the hospital. Rose

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Person

Rose Thanks for letting me know a few more things. When we start this bcg I will let you know how we are doing. I hope your husband is doing fine. Betty

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Rose_123

Hi, Hope things go well for you both. My sister in law and husband have been dealing with this cancer for years. I knew what a wonderful support he was/is. I had no idea how much stress he was under until Roger got diagnoises. Faith and medicine is getting them through. Rose

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Cativy

My dad just started his first bcg treatment. He is 71. The doctor did this in his office and sent my dad home. Is this normal? I read that after the treatment you should lie down for 2 hours and rotate from side to side for the medication to cover the walls of the bladder. After more then 2 hrs, my dad did not have any urgency to go to the bathroom. Is this a bad thing that he is holding this in his body for such a long time. Thanks for any reply that you can provide.

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Rose_123

Hi, I read this too. It bothered me as we have a two hour drive from that Dr.'s office. So we went to a friends house and stayed for a time. The walking ws suggested to be ok since we had such a trip to get home. Had we been able to lie down, may be the results would have beem better. We may not have wonder over the cancer anyway. The surgery is ok and we are dealing with the outside bag. It is ok. He is still here and better than he has been in years. It is like he is 10 years younger in health. As for him not going? That botheres me, how about giving him something to drink while you are going through the 2 hours. (probably do anyway). Are you clorxing your stool? Rose

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Cativy

Thank you for your reply. I don't understand your question: "Are you clorxing your stool? " What does this mean?

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Rose_123

Hi, The bcg is a live bacteria. It is so dangerous that the toilet with the urine has to be cloroxed to prevent spread of a nasty bacteria. I hope you read this too. Some doctors just thing you know this. Anyway after one uese the toilet, the clorox and the urine have to set in 15 minutes to kill any possilbe live things left in the medicine. We also were told not to use public restrooms and to carry a urnial during travel to prevent contamination of the road edge. rose

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