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BCG treatments for my Dad??, 86yo, frail and bed bound

16 years 4 months ago #11381 by Cynthia
Replied by Cynthia on topic BCG treatments for my Dad??, 86yo, frail and bed bound
Kjab,

Here is a link to information on Ta grade 1 on the Web Café. I think I am understanding that is what you are dealing with.

blcwebcafe.org/superficialblca.asp

I am dealing with elder care here and a lot of the same issues you are but with different diseases. Their doctor recently made the comment that he did not like to run tests unless he knew what he was going to do with the results. We were grappling with doing a colonoscopy on someone who could not really help with the prep for it nor understand why it was being done. I gained a lot of respect for him as he explained that he based all his decisions in cases like this on asking himself three questions. Is it safe for them? Doses it provide comfort? Dose it preserve their dignity? Even with that it is not an easy question.
The suggestion of a second opinion is not a bad one. But if you do go forward with the BCG would it be possible to have him admitted so that professionals will be handling the hours following installation?

Chin up and straight forward
Cynthia Kinsella
T2 g3 CIS 8/04
Clinical Trial
Chemotherapy & Radiation 10/04-12/04
Chemotherapy 3/05-5/05
BCG 9/05-1-06
RC w/umbilical Indiana pouch 5/06
Left Nephrectomy 1/09
President American Bladder Cancer Society

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16 years 4 months ago #11374 by momof4
Replied by momof4 on topic BCG treatments for my Dad??, 86yo, frail and bed bound
Is this cancer very aggressive? What else is the Dr. saying? It seems with your mother being the primary caregiver, and their age, that if he were to do treatments he should at least be at a facility to complete them. With dementia or Alzheimer's, I can't imagine how to make him understand that he had to "Hold it" for 2 hrs. and with a bedside commode yikes...this is really toxic stuff, seems like a lot to ask for both of your parents...If he is pain free, and happy...that's all you can ever want for a loved one, and if he is already bedridden your mother has enough on her plate too.

My thoughts are with you.

Karen
Caregiver for my Wonderful Husband Angelo, who has Metastatic Bladder Cancer.

Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.

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16 years 4 months ago #11370 by skypilot
Replied by skypilot on topic BCG treatments for my Dad??, 86yo, frail and bed bound
If I were your Dad I would not do the treatments. I bet if he could let you know he would say the same thing, Why put the nice old guy thru the crap. Let him be comfortible as possible. Just my thoughts. Soory if I sound crull. Don
Hanging in there!

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16 years 4 months ago #11361 by Rosemary
Replied by Rosemary on topic BCG treatments for my Dad??, 86yo, frail and bed bound
BTW,

I think it might not be a bad idea at all to get a second opinion on the treatment options for your Dad.

Just my opinion.

Regards,
Rosemary
Rosemary
Age - 55
T1 G3 - Tumor free 2 yrs 3 months
Dx January 2006

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16 years 4 months ago #11358 by Rosemary
Replied by Rosemary on topic BCG treatments for my Dad??, 86yo, frail and bed bound
Hey Kjab,

Gee, what a tough situation for your Dad and your family.

The thing about BCG is, that he might not have bad side effects, in fact, the first two or three treatments are a total piece of cake.

About the 4th treatment, the situation begins to change a little. The pain and some bleeding may occur.


During the treatment, your Dad is suppose to hold the urine for about 2 hours and your Dad(or Mom) will have to pour bleach in the toilet every time he voids. Your Mom or the Caretaker should not come in contact with his urine for 6 hours.

I think I see where the Uro is going with this. Your Dad is probably too old for surgery, but the disease needs to be treated.

This is a tough choice.

BTW, do you know what was the stage and grade of the tumor?

Please feel free to come and talk this situation out loud with us (so to speak.)

Your new friend,
Rosemary


Rosemary
Age - 55
T1 G3 - Tumor free 2 yrs 3 months
Dx January 2006

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16 years 4 months ago #11350 by kjablonsky
BCG treatments for my Dad??, 86yo, frail and bed bound was created by kjablonsky
:-\ My father's urologist has recommended a series of six weekly BCG treatments. He was first diagnosed with non-invasive, low-grade papillary tcc in aug., 2006. Follow-up cystoscopy in Nov. 2007 revealed recurrent disease. The second tur thankfully again revealed non-invasive low-grade papillary tcc, although he now has multiple sites within the bladder. His primary caregiver is my 80 yo mother who is in good health. My Dad is bed bound, getting out of bed only to use the bed side commode ( with difficulty). He has been pain free through all of this. He is very frail and has dementia (knows who we are but lives very much in the moment with short term memory loss)as well as some lung issues. He is however, happy and content with no depression or pain. My mother and I are so torn about whether or not to pursue the BCG.
It may extend his life but destroy the quality of his life. Any thoughts or experiences anyone can share would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

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