Chemo Injections In Bladdar...

If anyone could help with this we would be so appreciative.
My grandpa was diagnosed with bladder cancer four years ago. He has had to go in for a few little surgical check-ups but until this last one everything was fine. The doctor cut out cancer a few weeks ago, now they want him to have chemo that is injected into the bladdar. It apparently is very painful and he wants to talk to someone who has had this done before he makes a decison. Has anyone out there had this type of chemo? My grandpa is 85 and due to radiation burning a hole in his colon he has a colostomy bag and is weak. He is scared and ready to give up. What advice do you have? I appreciate any help you can offer. Thank you and God Bless, April

Hi April,
Your grandpa is probabley going to have BCG ( Bacille Camette Guerin ) this is a common treatment option for bladder cancer it effects everyone differently I had no problems at all with any of my 6 treatments others have had trouble and the dose had to be altered so they could tolerate it. go to www.acor.org and look up the bladder cancer cafe about 550 members on line that will answer any questions you can come up with. I had bladder cancer for 12 years and had to have what is called a radical cystecomy that is were they remove the bladder I had what is called a neobladder made out of my intestine 14 weeks ago and am feeling great.ask any questions you want and I will get you the answers but do go to the acor site it is very helpful.
Tell your grandfather to hang tough and get the treatment he needs.

Tim

Tim,
Thank you for responding to my message. If you don't mind me asking, how old were you when you went through the chemo? What were some of the other side effects you know people have suffered? We have a list of possible side-effects, but it is so different reading them and actually talking with someone else about their own experiences. Is it terribly painful? One of the issues I know that he is dealing with is the statistics he was told...50%chance of reoccurence if he does and 50% if he doesn't. I am glad everything is going well for you now. Is the neobladder a construction of a new bladder on the inside or outside? I appreciate your help and will check-out the site you mentioned. Thanks again, April~

Tim,
Thank you for responding to my message. If you don't mind me asking, how old were you when you went through the chemo? What were some of the other side effects you know people have suffered? We have a list of possible side-effects, but it is so different reading them and actually talking with someone else about their own experiences. Is it terribly painful? One of the issues I know that he is dealing with is the statistics he was told...50%chance of reoccurence if he does and 50% if he doesn't. I am glad everything is going well for you now. Is the neobladder a construction of a new bladder on the inside or outside? I appreciate your help and will check-out the site you mentioned. Thanks again, April~

April,
Bladder cancer has a very high rate of reoccourence (it came back four times with me) the last time being muscle invasive my neobladder is hooked up just like the old bladder was and works the same as the old one. I was 35 when I went through my set of BCG and I am 48 now.Is that what your granddad is having BCG?? I need to know what chemo they are going to use to help answer your questions about side effects but I would urge you to go to the web cafe as there are people a lot more knowledgeable than I on the subject of chemo.

Tim

There are basically two types of treatments into the bladder BCG and mytomicin. BCG is supposedly the best. It is a derivative of the tuberculosis virus. It causes irritation in the bladder that helps kill cancer cells. It is usually once a week for about 6 weeks after which time the doctor does a cystoscopy and looks in the bladder and decides what to do based on what he sees. in my case I ended up with a cystectomy anyway as I had a bladder perforation that would not heal and because of the type pf cancer I had the Doctors felt it was safer to remove the bladder. I had a neobladder created that works real well. Needless to say I am very greatful to G_D and the Doctors. It has been 2 years now. I am 59.
BCG causes some irritation when you urinate right after you have received the treatment. the effect is temporary, the pain is not bad at all and more than pain it is uncomfortable. It is also uncomfortable to receive the treatment as they insert something like a foley tube through which they inject the medication. It is really not too bad. Tell your Grandpa that it is more being uncomfortable than painful and that in many cases although it is not really a cure it does work. You have to monitor yourself with the Urologist to make sure it is working and not progressing into the muscle layer of the bladder.
Hope this helps
Take care, good luck and keep the faith
Luis

My father had a Rc four months ago and has experienced many complications. did you have any problems? He had a blood clot, stricture in his ureter and abcess. The doctor took out the bladder using a robot that they use frequently on prostates. i would not recommend this procedure, because it seems he had more complications than most having the RC.

thanks!