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  • Newly Diagnosed, New To The Forum

    Alternatives to BCG

    Posted by LisaD on July 9, 2014 at 6:16 pm

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    My grandmother was recently diagnosed with Bladder Cancer and had a small tumor removed. it was non invasive and was considered mostly low grade with some high grade. The doctor recommended BCG for 6 weeks with an additional 5 treatments over 2 years. The process for the treatment and the side effects do not seem pleasant and as most medicines bother her (at 89 years old) this does not seem like a good option for her. Is there any other treatments that she can have done? The doctor did not mention any other options.

    raider replied 10 years, 8 months ago 4 Members · 3 Replies
  • 3 Replies
  • raider's avatar

    raider

    Member
    July 11, 2014 at 6:18 pm

    I had a bad reaction to BCG treatments and have had my last 3 treatments with Interferon only. Next steps I’m being told is to try valrubicin

  • sara.anne's avatar

    sara.anne

    Member
    July 10, 2014 at 5:04 pm

    I agree with Niklas that you should discuss your concerns with the doctor.

    BCG has been shown to be the most effective treatment and, in the US at least, is the treatment of choice. With the presence of some high grade, she would want to get the very best available. Mitomycin is not without its issues also, as you may find from reading here on the Forum.

    You may want to ask the Uro about using a reduced dose of BCG.

    Since BCG only goes into the bladder, it is not like systemic chemotherapy where the entire body is exposed. Its purpose is to stimulate the immune response in the bladder lining and the side effects are a result of this.

    Good luck to you both.

    Sara Anne

    Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
    BCG; BCG maintenance
    Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
    Forum Moderator
  • nicke's avatar

    nicke

    Member
    July 10, 2014 at 5:36 am

    Hi,
    I am sorry to hear about your grandmothers bladder cancer, but it sound to me that the diagnosis is positive and the best it could be. Superficial bladder cancer is very treatable.

    There is a alternative to give her intravesical treatment with Mitomycin C, instead of BCG. Mitomycin is a chemotherapy drug, and there are a few similar drugs also used. The procedure is about the same as with BCG, but the side effects are said to be less. Normally, a 6-8 week treatment once a week is given. Sometimes also maintenance treatment is given. The should be no systematic side effects, as the drug only affects the bladder.

    I live overseas and here is Mitomycin actually first choice of treatment for low grade superficial bladder cancer. I have hade 14 doses of Mitomycin the last year. I have not had any BGC so I can´t really compare the two treatments, but my guess is that the local side effect are about the same, but the chance of having serious side effect are much higher with BCG.
    BCG are said to be a bit more effective, especially in long term, than Mitomycin.

    I am not a doctor, but I think you should ask your grandmothers doctor about Mitomycin. Considering your grandmothers age, it might be a better alternative than BCG for her.

    Niklas

    12-12 Diagnosis
    13-1 Turb TAG1
    13-5 Turb Ta low grade, multiple
    13-10 Turb TaG2, multiple
    13-11 Mitomycin 8 weeks + 6 month
    15-01 Turb

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