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Can I safely skip 6th treatment?

15 years 2 weeks ago #24841 by Nix
Replied by Nix on topic Can I safely skip 6th treatment?
My Uro was also reluctant to reduce the strength of BCG - until the 21st dose. At that one time (the last dose of the maintenance series) he reduced it to 50%. I could barely hold the BCG for more than 45 minutes. I did receive an answer to my email from Dr Lamm - he said dose could go down to !/3.
Dr Lamm's response:
"Reducing BCG does not generally reduce efficacy, in fact there is evidence
it can increase it. I would reduce your dose to less than 1/3 or so.
You can hold it for a short time as well to reduce side effects"
Don Lamm, MD

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

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15 years 2 weeks ago #24840 by slabman
Replied by slabman on topic Can I safely skip 6th treatment?
I've decided if the Doc doesn't want to reduce the strength, I'm going to reduce the dwell time myself...out of self-preservation. I'm thinking I might just race home, roll around on all sides while gulping a couple glasses of water and let nature take its course. Anything wrong with this approach?
Bob
T1 G3
Age 66
DX April 2008
TURB April 2008
Last BCG (#15) April 2009

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15 years 2 weeks ago #24837 by michstate89
Replied by michstate89 on topic Can I safely skip 6th treatment?
I am on 1/3 dose and still have some effects, but generally gone after 24 hours. I visited with Dr. Lamm and my doctor follows his protocol. 2 years cancer free so far.

Ross
Ross M
TaG1 March 06
Recurrence Jan 07
BCG Maintenance after 6 week treatment

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15 years 2 weeks ago #24833 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic Can I safely skip 6th treatment?
You hit it on the head, Slabman!! My last two doses were at
"half-strength." And Dr. Lamm has reports going down much "diluter" than that. My uro says "who knows what the proper dose is?" It was determined by what was used in previous studies...no one has ever done a controlled study on what the dose should be.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I will do my darndest to continue this. And yes, the side effects get worse as you progress since your immune system is being primed to react. Not pleasant, but what we are aiming for.

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

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15 years 2 weeks ago #24830 by slabman
Replied by slabman on topic Can I safely skip 6th treatment?
To those who have experienced increasing side effects with progressive treatments...have any of you discussed with and received from your Doc a diluted mix of BCG? :unsure: Dr. Lamm feels a diluted dosage is the way to go in these instances and, in fact, has said the efficacy may be even better. I need to discuss this with my Doc for my upcoming treatments, but I know he doesn't subscribe to my complaints of arthritic side effects. All I know is I am suffering more and more from this.
Bob
T1 G3
Age 66
DX April 2008
TURB April 2008
Last BCG (#15) April 2009

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15 years 3 weeks ago #24824 by michstate89
Replied by michstate89 on topic Can I safely skip 6th treatment?
I think if your reactions are too bad, Uros sometimes hold off on a treatment, but I do have increasing effects each time I go through the maintenance as well. Seems to me that doing something (even 5/6) is better than doing nothing.

Ross
Ross M
TaG1 March 06
Recurrence Jan 07
BCG Maintenance after 6 week treatment

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