Carolyn,

Maybe I should have been more specific.

You shouldn't TRY to miss the appointments.

If you can't get one until a week or two later it should not be a problem and it sounds like Jack had a similar schedule as you so that's all good news. And, as I said, the schedule certainly makes sense.

However, please DO make it a priority to get your treatments when possible. For example, going to your best friend's wedding is a good reason to cancel your treatment that day. Going across country to attend the funeral of a great-great-grand aunt six times removed whom you've never met and there is no chance you are in the will is probably something that would come under the heading of avoidance.

Just joshing with ya'.

Mike

thank you everybody for anwering my question it does help. i have been skipping my treatment for one reason or other i still have 4 more to goand i was just scared that it would grow back because i was not going steadly....

carolyn

Hi Red

I had 6 weekly treatments at a time(needed 3 regimes due to recurrences) and had to skip some due to UTI's. My maintenance regime was 1 per month for 12 months.
I have been cancer free now 33 months.
Hope this helps,
Jack

You are very welcome. You may want to talk to your doctor about the regimen.

Just thinking about it from a logic standpoint, it makes sense to do a once a month instillation if the single dose triggers a reaction.

If it does not trigger a reaction, then two weeks in a row or three weeks in row should as it has some cumulative effect.

Dr. Lamm has done the most research on BCG (as far as I know).

Again, good luck with the treatment. I hope it works out well for you!

Mike

thank you guys i dont know why i am doing a 8 week then off for 2 weeks and getting my cycscpoe then as long as everything is ok back on once a month.
carolyn

It's OK to skip now and then. If any trace blood shows up in the test on the day they plan to do BCG they will skip it that week.

Usually, it is six weeks, then a break for three to six months and then 3 weeks, then a break, then 3 weeks.
The maintenance doses are very important.

This is from Dr. Lamm's web site: (Click the link to read the full article, which is well worth your while)

The BCG Schedule generally used is my 3 week maintenance program that was found in the Southwest Oncology Group study to markedly reduce not only tumor recurrence but also disease progression when compared to 6 week induction BCG alone. I have modified the regimen as follows: Full strength BCG is used for the initial 6 instillations, often with the addition of skin vaccination as used in my original studies. The dose is reduced if needed to avoid side effects. Maintenance BCG (once a week for 3 weeks) is begun at 3 months using 1/3 dose BCG, unless no side effects were noted during induction. 3 week maintenance is repeated at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months, and then at years 3, 4, 5 and 6 followed by every other year for years 8, 10 and 12. The extended maintenance beyond 3 years is used only for patients who are at increased risk for progression due to high grade tumor, CIS, or lamina propria invasion.

Mike