CancerCompass message board discussion started by Opal_sybil on 6/3/2005 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,2193,0.htm Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ My father (69) was just diagnosed with carsinoma in situ. He had TUR. The biobsy didn't include muscle tissue, so the doctor couldn't say if the cancer invaded the muscle. Assuming that the muscle is not affected yet, I heard that BCG is effective in treating carsinoma in situ. His doctor is not suggesting that, however. I was wondering if someone has any negative (or positive) experience with this kind of therapy. Thank you, Opal_sybil Opal_sybil Fri, 03 Jun 2005 00:00:00 GMT My husband, 62, was diagnosed with bladder cancer last November he has 3 biopsies since then the first was where it was diagnosed the second was at Mt. Sinai hospital in Manhattan where they did a section and went into the muscle but it had not invaded the muscle, he also has an incarsinoma insitu. He had a very agressive form of bladder cancer where it grows extremely fast and the doctor said it grows and looks like broccoli. When I looked at the pictures that was exactly what it looked like. He then began BCG treatments for 6 weeks and had another biopsy in March and it looked great needless to say the treatments are working. He continues on a 3 week treatment program now had a csytoscope in June and agian it looks good he has to wait 6 weeks and will begin another 3 week session of treaments. The treatments aren't too bad they get progressivly worse and just when that happens they are finished until the next time. He is very thankful for the treatments vs the alternative. They are not so bad he said it is a simple injection at the doctor's office and then you come home and move around for 2 hours with no urination allowed until the 2 hours is up. Then it can be quite painful when urinating because it is actually breaking down the mucus membranes of the bladder walls the uncomfortableness usally occurs after the first urination and continue from 4 to 6 hours. Stay positive and remember it is a curable and manageble cancer. Gabby Mon, 18 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT I am 69 years old and was diagnosed with "Carsinoma in stiu" almost two years ago. I took the six treatments of BCG LIVE. After three months my tests showed I was in remission so I started a maintenance program of BCG ant 1/3 strength, meaning I only recieved 1/3 of the original amount. This was mixed with Intron at full strength. I had some red areas in the bladder but all biopsies showed no cancer. I go back in October for my two year checkup. I feel better and the bladder is functioning more normally now than for the last two years. I thank GOD daily for my good reports. Good Luck. Metoo Tue, 26 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT my father has bladder cancer cis and went through six rounds of bcg. unfortunately he was in the 40% stats that dont respond. we are scheduled for sugery in two weeks to remove the bladder and prostate. we go to the university of chicago and the doctor only works with bladder cancer. he wants to try and remove the bladder before invasion for a better life expectancy. his biopspies were actually negative for cancer but his urnine done with a FISH test showed abnormal cells and abnormal chromosomes. Try and have this Fish test perfomed. after all my readings its actually more reailable than the biopsies alone. God Bless! Heart Wed, 21 Sep 2005 00:00:00 GMT opal-sybil - My husband is having the 3rd of his series of BCG treatments - after having 5 of them 2 months ago - but bioposy revealed the cancer is still there but has not invaded the bladder wall yet - and we are hoping that the second set of treatments with BCG will do the job.  He says the treatments are unpleasant but bearable - and are playing the "waiting game" at this time.  Guess we are all kind of in this together.  Am so  thankful I found this website - sure encourages me!  Beverly Beads Mon, 11 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT