BCG Treatments

12 years 4 days ago #41602 by maryland_mike
Replied by maryland_mike on topic BCG Treatments
Congratulation, Ray! And....life IS GOOD after treatments/surgeries/rechecks/etc. I celebrated my successfuly surgery of 3/12 by going to the Washington, DC tidal basin yesterday and taking in the beautiful cherry blossoms with wife and friends. I DO FEEL a deeper appreciation for everything I see and do....life is truly a gift.

Here's hoping you stay clear! (Me, too)

Cheers - Maryland Mike

TURBT, HoLAP, bladder stone ablation 9/28/11
Ta, Mx, Nx

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12 years 4 days ago #41599 by mmc
Replied by mmc on topic BCG Treatments
Heck yeah Ray! Glad things went well. Sounds like a full schedule for a while with the things that matter most.

Dont forget to celebrate the completion of this round of BCG. Never miss an opportunity to celebrate!!!

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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12 years 4 days ago #41598 by corkyd614
Replied by corkyd614 on topic BCG Treatments
Hi All,

Just completed first series of BCG treatments and I'm happy to say that that the side effects of numbers 5&6 were not too bad. A little burning on the days of injection and a trace of blood in my urine. Also a frequent urge to urinate but only on the injection day and night. This forum prepared me well and for that I am sincerely grateful.

I am ready for my 3 month hiatus and a normal routine until June. That's my next appointment with my urologist. Meanwhile I have a grandson graduating college, a reunion with co-workers in Florida and a trip to California to visit family and grandchildren. There really is life after diagnosis and I am going to enjoy every precious moment of it.

I will of course stay in touch with this forum and reality.

Regards,

Ray

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12 years 1 week ago #41436 by corkyd614
Replied by corkyd614 on topic BCG Treatments
Hi Lauren,

Congratulations on being cancer free for 2.5 years. Wishing you many more years of the same results.

I've only had four BCG treatments so far and the side effects have been minimal. I hope it doesn't mean the BCG is not working. In fact the number 4 treatment had no noticeable side effects and I've been almost sleeping through the night with no interruption. Even before my diagnosis this was unheard of with me as I have been on prostrate medication for a while. I will bring this up to my urologist tomorrow. Thank you for the pep talk and thank God for this forum.

Ray

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12 years 2 weeks ago #41418 by lhpdogs
Replied by lhpdogs on topic BCG Treatments
Hi Ray,

I have had three recurrences of low-grade tumors; and now have had 18 BCG treatments; 2.5 years cancer free, and am hoping my April 30th cystoscopy will also be clear. I HATE BCG more and more with each one; I am down to a 50% dose, and still experience 6-8 hours of blood and spasms that make me cry... and upset my dog when I'm crying in the loo... However, when I think of what others go through for cancer treatments, I'm grateful for the brevity and few side effects of the BCG protocol. I think it's the knowledge that this just keeps going ON and ON - if we grow one more little tumor, we have to start all over again - that makes each treatment a little more depressing. Never thought I'd be on first name basis with a urologist, either. I guess being one of the only women in his waiting room full of prostate problems makes me unique... anyway, hang in there, keep a positive attitude (although feeling sorry for yourself on BCG days is permitted).. Cheers!

Lauren

TaG1 12/05
3 recurrences
BCG started 9/09

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12 years 3 weeks ago #41307 by corkyd614
Replied by corkyd614 on topic BCG Treatments
Hi Mike,

Thank you so much for the welcome. Also want to thank you for your well chronicled experience with BCG treatments. I actually read your experience with BCG a few weeks ago, after finding this great forum with it's most knowledgeable people, the patients themselves. After my diagnosis I dove in to try to find out as much as I could regarding bladder cancer. I am finding out that I am one of the most fortunate ones in that the tumors I had were non-invasive and after removal could be treated. For this I am grateful. Rest assured I will be continuing my treatments.

After three BCG treatments I am experiencing some side effects but not to the extent that you described. Lethargy and sleep loss mostly but that disappears after a couple of days and by the time I need to take the next treatment I actually feel pretty good, another reason to be fortunate. I've found that exercise really helps. A walk around the block, visit to the gym etc.

I am sorry that you have to undergo another surgical procedure and I will be pulling for you for a fast recovery and a positive outcome.

I have a son that lives in Hampstead Maryland and there is nothing like visiting him, putting on a bib, grabbing a hammer and eating those crabs.

Good luck with the surgery and again thanks for the welcome.


Ray

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