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bcg
hi im new to the forum and im wondering if maybe I could just get a couple general answers
so I just turned 60 this new years and I was diagnosed with bladder cancer in may 2018 , I had a small non invasive tumor removed it was however high grade , I had my first cystoscopy after my tumor removal in October all was ok , my latest cystoscopy was beginning of feb which showed 2 irritations which lead to biopsies 2 weeks ago
I got my pathology results today and it is carcinoma insitu high grade , so as I expected my urologist is recommending BCG , what im really not sure about is he says once a week for 6 weeks and doesn’t really expect me to have to have more , however he says I will need to be checked after the 6-8 weeks of healingfrom what im seeing though is most people seem to have it several times atleast 2 different sets of 6 weeks
is BCG normally done at urologists office , should I see an oncologist , I want to do the right thing
thank you to whom ever replies
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6 Replies
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Appreciate your response helped me !!
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Thank You appreciate your information !
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Thank You , Sara Anne your answer was insightful !
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There are multiple protocols for BCG. The most common is to have it once a week for 6 weeks. If after a few months you are clear many urologists recommend maintenance doses for up to two years. This has been shown to significantly increase effectiveness in high grade bladder cancer. In my case I had BCG once a week for three weeks every three months during the maintenance period. Different doctors have different recommendations,.
I would discuss with your urologist the pros and cons of maintenance BCG therapy.Oncologists usually do not get involved in treating bladder cancer until it has spread outside the bladder.
Sara Anne
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator
As my example (I’ve only been through 1 BCG so far, last week).
BCG once a week for 6 weeks (Induction)
6 weeks of a break/bladder healing
CystographyIf nothing show on Cryptography, go into Maintenance
BCG 3 weeks every 3 months
6 weeks of a break/bladder healing
Cystography
TURBT Jan 2019; Diag: CIS
Induction BCG (Mar 19) /Maint BCG (Aug 19)
TURBT Nov 2019; Diag: CIS
Repeat Induction BCG – Jan 2020 Complete
Ella2004,
Welcome. BCG is normally done in the URO’s office. All of 10-15 minutes as you will be asked for a urine sample just to make sure there is no UTI or bleeding. Once a week for 6 weeks is standard although don’t get hung up 6. It was an accident way back when (45 years ago) where 6 just worked. May have as much to do with packaging as anything.
There are MANY protocols over time on how many etc. My URO had me do 6, wait 6 weeks then another 6 weeks of once a week and that was it. The most common would be 6 installations followed by 3 more after 3 months and repeated several times graduating to 3 every 6 months until done…usually over 3-4 years. I have read about once a month for a year among others.
Don’t get too hung up getting the first 6 done on schedule. Many have irritations etc that sometimes push this over 7 or 8 weeks. The important thing is to try and the the 6 as a start. Ask away as you have other questions. Someone will have some insight.
DX 5/6/2008 TAG3 papillary tumor .5 CM in size. 2 TURBS followed by 6 instillations of BCG weekly with a second round of 6 after a 6 week wait.Sign In to reply.
