What are the odds of recurring non-invasive CIS/Dysplasia Upstaging??

I happy to learn I am not alone with finding out the effects of BCG on the bladder for some people. I, too, am experiencing blisters in the bladder after a series of BCG treatments. After my last biopsy which turned out to be clear, it also showed chronic inflammation of the bladder. I was given antibiotics during the biopsy/cystoscopy. Other than antibiotics has anyone taken anything else to help heal with the inflammation?

Thanks.

Dear David,
Of course I don't have the answer, but I certainly favor the idea of trying Mitomycin C before throwing in the towel. I had great results so far wtih Mitomycin C.

Wife again, Pat & all:

I guess at the end of day you mentally weigh the difference between the nagging uncertainty of the odds of non-invasive papillary recurrences taking a more dangerous turn and the certainty of major surgery and the lifestyle changes RC brings. I do believe that the repeated absence of CIS over the past year has helped us be optomistic about our chances. Of course the whole aspect of "dysplasia" is one that the doctor hasn't provided any answers for...

We'll see what happens with the Mytomicin C. Based on my horrible experience with BCG I'm not optomistic. But then again, if CIS hasn't recurred......


Still optomistic even after 5 TURBT's,

David

UROTHELIAL CARCINOMA IN SITU of the bladder features obviously anaplastic cells in a flat urothelium.

There may be full-thickness, obvious anaplasia. In this case, the urothelium actually tends to be thin, and the cells tend to come apart.
Or there may only be a few anaplastic cells among healthy-looking cells ("pagetoid").

* Future pathologists: A fooler is BK polyoma virus in the immunocompromised. Another is chemotherapy effect after mitomycin C and/or thiotepa. Let us worry about this.

Usually asymptomatic, CIS may be uncomfortable if it allows backleak of electrolytes, since the salty urine stimulates pain fibers in the submucosa.

On cystoscopy, if it is visible at all, it looks smooth and red (i.e., the lamina propria is inflamed because substances from urine leak through) or is sometimes detected only by sampling of the mucosa by biopsy.

Carcinoma in situ is notoriously unpredictable, and much more ominous than an actual mass lesion without invasion (J. Urol. 172: 882, 2004). Around 20-50% of known cases of carcinoma in situ turn into invasive cancer within five years (Am. J. Clin. Onc. 21: 217, 1998), and it can sometimes metastasize without an identifiable invasive mass. We believe that many (most?) invasive cancers start here rather than in papillary lesions; the numbers are still being sorted out.

This is from a pathologist...........Pat

David

My husband and his bladder cancer story are quite similar. We also live our life in three month blocks.
His treatments so far have included BCG 6 treatments. At 3 months cysto there were visible tumor recurrences and once inside during TURBT there were 12 wartlike areas that could be seen.
Next treatment Mitomycin. He had a horrible reaction to this as you did to BCG. At three month Cysto, once again recurrence.
Next treatment BCG with interferon. 3 Month cysto showed two small papillary tumors so once again TURBT.
All pathology has come back T1G3.
We are at the end of the treatment rope. Wednesday is a Cysto and if there are once again new tumors we will be talking about RC.
I feel as if he has made a valiant attempt to avoid RC but I also think that time is working against him at this point. He has never made even a three month Cysto clean.

Good luck with the Mitomycin. It might be the right mix for you against the big "C"!

Sorry about the delay in posting an update but I'm about two thirds of the way thru a series of antibiotics to clear up a urinary tract infection. Will go see the doc on 8/5 to see if we can start the Mitomycin C treatment either later that week or the following week. Appreciate the concern.

Suzi: not sure exactly what you were talking about when you asked about BCG +Intron. Did you mean Inferon? Like I mentioned earlier, BCG really messed me up big time, blisters, bleeding, just terrible. Hope Mitomycin doesn't do the same. Fingers crossed.

Will post when we are back on track for treatments.

David