Still No BCG!

4 years 9 months ago #57699 by Jack R
Replied by Jack R on topic Still No BCG!
Alanta51

I found intravesical Gemcitabine to far more user friendly that BCG. No pain, burning or urgency beyond a couple of hours. There was some one day fatigue. We each react somewhat differently.

See Dr Kamat's thoughts about BCG substitutes at:

www.bcan.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/BCG-Shortage-Dr-Kamat-GU15-Editorial.pdf

Best
Jack

6/2015 HG Papillary & CIS
3 Years and 30 BCG/BCG+Inf
Tis CIS comes back.
BC clear as of 5/17 !
RCC found in my one & only kidney 10/17
Begin Chemo; Cisplatin and Gemzar
8/18 begin Chemo# 3
Begin year 4 with cis
2/19 Chemo #4
9/19 NED again :)
1/2020 CIS is back
Tried Keytruda, stopped by side effects
Workin on a new plan for 2021
The following user(s) said Thank You: Atlanta51

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4 years 9 months ago #57698 by Atlanta51
Replied by Atlanta51 on topic Still No BCG!
Appears my urologist’s office is also impacted by the BCG shortage. Is anyone fluent with the side effects of Gemcitabine?

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4 years 9 months ago #57684 by Regor
Replied by Regor on topic Still No BCG!
Here is my providers approach that is being taken in regards to the BCG shortage (via my Cystoscopy appointment last week).

I will forego Maintenance for the moment, while Kaiser Permanente comes up with a bigger plan to treat while the world continues to experience the BCG Shortage.

The treatment that is probably 2-3 months away from reality is: Gemcitabine Chemo Therapy, injected just like BCG, directly into the Bladder. Oh, and the Maintenance treatment using Gemcitabine would be once a month, not 3 treatments 3 weeks in a row every 3 months.

TURBT Jan 2019; Diag: CIS
Induction BCG (Mar 19) /Maint BCG (Aug 19)
TURBT Nov 2019; Diag: CIS
Repeat Induction BCG - Jan 2020 Complete

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4 years 9 months ago - 4 years 9 months ago #57683 by Jack R
Replied by Jack R on topic Still No BCG!
RJake

The American Urological Association has made the following recommendations (Feb 2019) it describes the track I am currently on. Link below.

www.auanet.org/about-us/bcg-shortage-info

Talk with your doctor(s) about the options. Not all urologists and offer all alternatives; in some case an oncologist must provide the treatment. Insurance and network problems arose for me in selecting an alternative treatment, but were overcome after dealing with my health insurer.

Also see thought from the 2015 shortage at:

www.bcan.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/BCG-Shortage-Dr-Kamat-GU15-Editorial.pdf

Best
Jack

6/2015 HG Papillary & CIS
3 Years and 30 BCG/BCG+Inf
Tis CIS comes back.
BC clear as of 5/17 !
RCC found in my one & only kidney 10/17
Begin Chemo; Cisplatin and Gemzar
8/18 begin Chemo# 3
Begin year 4 with cis
2/19 Chemo #4
9/19 NED again :)
1/2020 CIS is back
Tried Keytruda, stopped by side effects
Workin on a new plan for 2021

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4 years 9 months ago #57680 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic Still No BCG!
This is a question for your doctor. He should be able to give you some idea of when he expects BCG and how long he feels you can wait for it as well as any other options he can offer you.

Sara Anne

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator

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4 years 9 months ago #57678 by RJake1
Still No BCG! was created by RJake1
Been waiting over one month to start BCG treatments, but none to be had. Any suggestions on how long I should wait before embarking on some other treatment (Mitomycin-C)? HG non-invasive.

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