Maintenance BCG

15 years 6 months ago #21238 by Nix
Replied by Nix on topic Maintenance BCG
Good point, Rosemary - Mentally I am almost at that point. All the ups and downs over the past two years really wears me out! Also, I was told BCG works well on CIS. I hope that is true. I have asked numerous times if BCG just buys time and have been told, by more than one Uro that they have had great success.
I guess the next question should be - "good success buying time or good success stopping the cancer" :)
Bless the ones that have been at this much longer than me and still have such a positive outlook!
Good luck to all!

Nix

Nancy S
Ta CIS
dx Ta 11/06
dx Ta CIS 10/07

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15 years 6 months ago #21236 by Rosemary
Replied by Rosemary on topic Maintenance BCG
Well this is scary.

Is Dr. Herr telling us that there are no successes with BCG treatment for T1 disease? Is he saying "Go ahead and avoid the ultimate heartache and have the surgery."

This idea seems to oppose the research.

Am I interpreting this correctly??

Ro

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

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15 years 6 months ago #21227 by Patricia
Replied by Patricia on topic Maintenance BCG
Having had Dr. Herr as my surgeon i can tell you he probably sees more blc than anyone and he's very no nonsense. His reasoning is along the lines of

"BCG may not be a panacea for stage T1 disease in the long term, particularly in the setting of rapid recurrence, more extensive penetration and/or carcinoma in situ. Progression at sanctuary sites, ultimate recurrence and progression with time, and issues affecting quality of life (bladder contraction from repeated resections and intravesical BCG) may affect the advisability of avoiding cystectomy. Despite the admonition that a patient's own bladder is better than a reconstructed one, the potential for cure and the qualifications of a reasonably well functioning orthotopic bladder may be preferable to many individuals who otherwise might die of unpredictably progressive disease."

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15 years 6 months ago #21226 by Alan
Replied by Alan on topic Maintenance BCG
Don't know if Cynthia can pull the article up, or ya'll can register as guests on the below link. The editor compares maintenence BCG with 6 then kind of a "booster" 6 weeks later then stop-which is what my uro is doing. Not sure according to the article it makes much difference as BOTH were rated about the same. Then there is that Dr. Herr we read about who says just do 6 and quit. Who knows? BCG is still working the majority of the time. Biggest question is toxicity and build up with continual instillations. Hope everyone has good results!

www.jurology.com/article/PIIS0022534705667936/fulltext

DX 5/6/2008 TAG3 papillary tumor .5 CM in size. 2 TURBS followed by 6 instillations of BCG weekly with a second round of 6 after a 6 week wait.

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15 years 6 months ago #21204 by mmc
Replied by mmc on topic Maintenance BCG
Sara Anne,

That is GREAT NEWS! Best of the luck on the next two.

BCG didn't work for me on the first series but for those it does, it is the best thing on the market.

I'm actually going to try again due to my recurrence and progression to kidneys. Just going to try a lower dose under close monitoring.

Do keep us posted on how it goes for you.

Mike

Age 54
10/31/06 dx CIS (TisG3) non-invasive (at 47)
9/19/08 TURB/TUIP dx Invasive T2G3
10/8/08 RC neobladder(at 49)
2/15/13 T4G3N3M1 distant metastases(at 53)
9/2013 finished chemo -cancer free again
1/2014 ct scan results....distant mets
2/2014 ct result...spread to liver, kidneys, and lymph...

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15 years 6 months ago #21203 by Nix
Replied by Nix on topic Maintenance BCG
Good for you Sara. I have had two maintenance since the first 6 BCG. I did OK, but I am always very tired the day after. That I can deal with - no big deal. Hopefully, you won't even have that:)
Good Luck
Nix

Nancy S
Ta CIS
dx Ta 11/06
dx Ta CIS 10/07

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