no chemo for non invasive cis?

That is really good news. Please let us know what they recommend....this will help others with similar questions.

Wishing you all the best

Sara Anne

I am glad that you had the "full catastrophe" of BCG. At least it had a chance.

You asked
"But let me understand- they don't do chemo on non invasive because it isn't effective?"
The purpose of systemic chemotherapy is to reach areas of the body where the cancer may be outside of the primary site. If there is no cancer outside the bladder, there would be no point in using systemic chemo. Of course, the question always is...how does anyone KNOW if the cancer is anywhere else? But if the doctors are pretty sure that the cancer is still localized in the bladder they would not use systemic chemo, which can be quite debilitating and unpleasant.

But since this is such an important question, as is the major surgery of an RC, I would again strongly suggest getting a second opinion from a bladder cancer expert. The very best thing that could happen is that they concur that your doctor's recommendations are "right on." However, if there are other options and recommendations, you need to know this NOW.

Sara Anne

So sorry to hear that it has returned. Unfortunately, bladder cancer has a nasty habit of doing that.

I would really recommend that you get a second opinion at a center that treats a LOT of bladder cancer cases. Yours is not a simple situation because of your other health problems. Also, urologists do not always agree on how to treat a first recurrence such as yours. If you let us know where you are located geographically, some of us may have suggestions as to where you might get a second opinion.

Chemo is used when the cancer has spread beyond the original site. If your doctor is SURE that yours hasn't, chemo would probably cause more problems and there would be no point in it.

When you say that you had three "installs" of BCG, do you mean just three treatments or three SERIES of treatments? The usual BCG protocol, especially for CIS, is 6 weeks, once a week, then in about three months maintenance treatments start...once a week for three weeks every three months until two years have passed.

Please consider getting a second opinion ASAP!

Sara Anne