Gemcitabine Treatments

Hi Kim, I had been diagnosed with a T1G3 tumor as well as multiple superficial tumors 3 years ago. I failed 2 rounds of BCG and BCG with Interferon. Multiple superficial tumors continued to come back. My Dr. wanted me to get another opinion.

I found a Dr. who did the Gemcitabine & Mitomycin treatments. 1x a week for 6 weeks, they instilled the Gemcitabine via a catheter/bag, waited an hour, flushed, then inserted the Mitomycin for an hour and flushed again, draining into the bag. The only issue that I had was urgency & Frequency, just like I had with the BCG maybe a bit worse, but I felt fine.

After the 6 week treatment and a biopsy, I was to complete 1 treatment as above, once a month for a year. I only made it about 5 months, it became to painful. I wasn't able to hold the medicine.

I just had a cystoscopy this week. All is clear. I have not had a recurrence since starting the Gemcitabine treatments 2 years ago! I have to say, it wasn't fun sitting on the table for more than 2 hours, but it was worth it in the end.

Mike.. I've read every article I could find when googling Gemcitabine but thank you for the information. My doctor was only speaking of "his" patients who had gone through Gemcitabine treatments instilled directly into the bladder. I didn't take it as a guarantee, just informational. I've been fighting this battle with bladder cancer for 3-1/2 years so he knows I understand what he means.

jlllo... yes, this is what I mean. Instilled in the bladder only. Did you have any side effects from it? Did you have any reoccurrence of tumors after that treatment?

To the person who replied to me that he is stage 4 and received Gemcitabine systemically (sorry forgot your name!), I hope things are going well for you. Thank you for responding to me so quickly!!

Kim

It has not only been used for a year according to this research. It is false that every patent who has used it has not had a reoccurrence. Maybe none of his patients have had a recurrence but that is different from all patients in general.

There have been a number of studies and it is a promising treatment option. This link is to a study where they researched prior studies going back to intravesicle treatments for noninvasive bladder cancer in 1947.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22259002

You should read the whole article as it is informative and gives recurrence and progression facts based on a number of studies.

"Author's Conclusion: A single dose immediately following surgery is ineffective based on one study. Gemcitabine may be more active than mitomycin C with a lower toxicity profile. Compared to intravesical BCG therapy, gemcitabine had similar effects in intermediate risk patients, less effective in high risk patient and superior in BCG refractory patients. However, each randomised trial identified represents a different clinical setting in NMIBC and therefore the evidence base is limited. Consequently these data should be interpreted with caution until further corroborative evidence becomes available. The aim of intravesical therapy in NMIBC is to prevent tumour recurrence and progression and to avoid the morbidity associated with cystectomy. Intravesical gemcitabine is a promising drug that may add to the urologist's options in achieving this goal."

If you Google "intravesicle gemcitabine" you will find lots of good information on studies. That have been done.

Mike

Hi Kim, I had Gemcitabine treatments directly instilled in my bladder. Is this what you are looking for information on?

Thanks Sara for looking out for us. I didn't mind you deleting my message. Thanks again!!

Kim - Mine is T3a/N2/M0 stage 4. My chemo was systemic via IV each week, I did not have a port. Every 4th week I got a full day (8 hrs) of CIS as well. I'm not sure how to get me email address to you but I would be glad to email with you about all this. Ben