Mitomycin side effects

Good Luck on your next Cysto. I have had 21 BCG washes so far and each series has more side effects than the last. I have had infections and a very inflamed bladder for 2-3 months. But like you I have had clean cystos so I don't like to harp on the side effects - so far working!

Nix

I have had 30 BCG treatments over the past 3 years. During my 1st 12 treatments I had very little side effects. But I also required a TURBT after each segment, TA Grade 1.
Then during my next 6 weekly treatments, I had 2 bladder infections, burning while I urinated for 2 days, soreness in bladder and joints.
During my 12 monthly treatments the side effects lasted longer after each treatment. My Uro had warned me when I started the monthly treatments, that the side effects would most likely worsen and last longer. This was based on his experience with many prior patients. Boy was his prediction correct.
But on a good note, I have been cancer free for 15 months, so the increased side effects for the last 18 treatments have been worth it. Next Cysto is March 26.
Jack

I had 6 BCG teatments a year ago with very little side effects. Just finished 3 more and had symptoms such as chills, aching, blood in urine, also looked like the lining was shedding and slight increase in temp after my third one. They lasted about 1 day, with the exception of the achiness that lingers for a couple of days.

Chuck, I have not had MMC, rather, 12 treatments of BCG. The last was in Oct. '08 and shortly after that I began experiencing constant chills to a degree I have never seen before. Also, fatigue began before the BC diagnosis and continues to this day, although at a reduced rate. So perhaps the BC itself is the cause as opposed to the treatments? What have others experienced?

As always Patricia, your responses are helpful. I see my Uro next week and will ask again about this laser surgery to make sure I understand in total what he is suggesting. I hopefully will have the results back from the lab that my primary doctor requested. With those results, perhaps I might get an answer to my chills and fatigue problem. Neither one are severe enough that makes them intolerable, just annoying. Again thanks for your support.

Chuck

Chuck........hmmmm....there is blue light (Hexvix) cystoscopy which is used all over europe but in clinical trials here...i believe at MD Anderson and MSK.....blcwebcafe.org/content/view/93/103/lang,english/
I know MSK has a newer process where they don't have to wait for the dye to be injected 1 hr. ahead of time and i believe its a green light....something new they are using or testing. I posted it once on here and have completely lost it??? It may be in a past article from MSK...i'll look for it.
As for surgery i've heard of using green light laser but like you said...can't come up with anything on blue light.
I did find an interesting article from Germany on monthy instillations of Mitomycin C for 3 yrs.....really great results!!
professional.cancerconsultants.com/oncology_bladder_cancer_news.aspx?id=39831
As for your side effects...i have seen that as a side effect of Mitomycin being injected...chills and fatigue but not intravesically.....???
Pat