I joined the BCG reactor\'s club

a recent study adding fluroquinolone to BCG reduced toxicity
free to register and read

www.urotoday.com/3392/urotoday_international_
journal/new_in_press/safety_and_
efficacy_of_ofloxacin_on_bacillus_calmetteguerin_
induced_toxicity_in_patients_with_superficial_bladder_
cancer10052009.html?s_cid=uijipa

pat

I feel for everybody. It s*cks!!!!! I went thursday (12/10/09) and was still peeing pices of stuff and blood with pain this morning. (sunday) It was my second week of my 3 week treatment and they tried the reduced amount and it was worse than last week.(full strength) I think if I can reduce the pain I can deal with it but it seems to get worse every time. I was getting a fever in the past, but started taking tylenol and the fever has stopped. Still feel like I got run over by a truck.

I want to keep taking it but dont know.

Any body know about BCG and Interferon?

Jon

BCG 3-7 were murder, so at 8 & 9 we went to 30%. Still murder, the only difference was that there was no "blood-clots", just blood Still murder at 30%.

Will see an Infectious Disease Specialist tomorrow, for what seems to be a 4-month long prostate infection from BCG

Seems I am one of the "X-#" that just can not tolerate BCG, in fact a Dr at UVA suggested I take no more BCG. I have my next 3-month cysto in Feb and I am changing to a new Uro!

So, I know what you are going thru.

I have only had 12 treatments and I start my third maitenance round of 3 in two weeks. I would try to continue but at the reduce level.
My side effects have lasted less than 24 hours with the slight fever, frequency, some bleeding, burning and an occasional rash.

Joey

Ann,

So glad to hear you are feeling better. I agree with Nix that you really want to go lower dose.

Based on information I got from Dr. Lamm, I think the dose would be 10% or maybe a bit more as the standard if there was more money for research. It only needs to be enough to generate an immune response. A lot less people would fail treatment if they started lower and stayed that way (IMHO).
We wouldn't see so many severe reactions.

My opinion is that the current standard 100% or 50% dose is kind of like using an 18 wheeler to move a desk lamp across town. Way more wear and tear on the roads than needed.

For the hunters out there, the analogy is that it's kind of like hunting squirrels with a 50 caliber. Gets the job done but makes much of a mess than needed.

Need some more research to figure it out and many urologists just don't think a 10% dose is even worth trying when the guy with the most research and experience thinks it may even be better than the high dose.

Mike

Sara Anne, I know the usual maintenance is 3 wks of BCG, but that can also be changed to two weeks apart or even one a month for three months. At first glance my Uro even thought we might wait 9 months before the next round. There are a lot of options if you and your Uro are comfortable with them.
I am sure you will make the right decision for you.


Nix