Home › Forums › All Categories › Women and Bladder Cancer › bcg question

  • Women and Bladder Cancer

    bcg question

    Posted by slocapo on January 13, 2014 at 11:17 pm

    Start of Discussion
    0 of 0 replies June 2018
    Now

    This might sound like a strange question… if the BCG 6 week chemo treatments kill the “bad cells” that sit on my sub-floor… do I pee them out? and if so should I be looking for something? I go back in tomorrow for my 2nd round… and I will ask them as well – hope I remember too.

    5-12 TURB
    5-13 TURB
    11-13 TURB
    1-14 BCG
    7-14 TURB
    8-14 BCG
    12-14 TURB
    1-15 Cauterized for clotting
    2-15 Removal of Right Kidney and Lymph node
    slocapo replied 10 years, 8 months ago 6 Members · 11 Replies
  • 11 Replies

  • slocapo

    Member
    January 26, 2014 at 9:15 pm

    Going to my 4th one this Tuesday.. Doing fine other than a couple tired blah days… I do have a constant stretch like feel in my lower… groin? area? a lot when I stand up. Any clue?

    5-12 TURB
    5-13 TURB
    11-13 TURB
    1-14 BCG
    7-14 TURB
    8-14 BCG
    12-14 TURB
    1-15 Cauterized for clotting
    2-15 Removal of Right Kidney and Lymph node

  • flamenco

    Member
    January 15, 2014 at 11:55 am

    Found this on internet , and thought it gave quite a simplified explanation of how immunotherapy (bcg for example) Works.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrffK3c2OH8

    Hope the link works.

  • sara.anne

    Member
    January 15, 2014 at 2:28 am

    Yes, BCG is considered a form of immunotherapy, rather than chem. Rather than “poison” cancer cells, it harnesses the body’s own immune system to fight the cancer cells.

    The history of BCG is very interesting. It was developed, I believe, in the 1920’s to innoculate children against TB…it was considered milder than other TB vaccines. For some reason, 40 years ago or so it was tried on a number of cancers. I remember that malignant melanoma was one. These treatments turned out to be ineffective. However it did end up being rather successful for bladder cancer, particularly CIS.

    Just glad we have it…

    Sara Anne

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

  • slocapo

    Member
    January 15, 2014 at 1:02 am

    Yes I was told that as well and have read about it… Chemo has many forms ( types ) So strange that someone thought to take tb and test it for bc…

    5-12 TURB
    5-13 TURB
    11-13 TURB
    1-14 BCG
    7-14 TURB
    8-14 BCG
    12-14 TURB
    1-15 Cauterized for clotting
    2-15 Removal of Right Kidney and Lymph node

  • rbmc

    Member
    January 15, 2014 at 12:24 am

    BCG is a live TB virus, infused directly into the bladder. Helps your own body immune system to see, find and ward off cancer cells in the bladder. Hopefully the patient can hold it in there for 1-2 hrs.

  • slocapo

    Member
    January 15, 2014 at 12:10 am

    For sure after #6! I have been dealing with this since May of 2012. I have had 3 surgeries and now this 6 weeks of treatments. I was told by my surgeon that this is a treatment of chemo. Did your doctor tell you differently?

    5-12 TURB
    5-13 TURB
    11-13 TURB
    1-14 BCG
    7-14 TURB
    8-14 BCG
    12-14 TURB
    1-15 Cauterized for clotting
    2-15 Removal of Right Kidney and Lymph node

  • rbmc

    Member
    January 14, 2014 at 11:58 pm

    Remember, BCG is not Chemo. Don’t forget us after #6.

  • slocapo

    Member
    January 14, 2014 at 7:08 pm

    Thank you! I just got back home from Boston.. having some toast and sitting by the fire… round 2 done and 4 to go! I feel pretty good! Thank you again.

    5-12 TURB
    5-13 TURB
    11-13 TURB
    1-14 BCG
    7-14 TURB
    8-14 BCG
    12-14 TURB
    1-15 Cauterized for clotting
    2-15 Removal of Right Kidney and Lymph node

  • sara.anne

    Member
    January 14, 2014 at 6:44 pm

    The irritation caused by the BCG on the bladder lining does cause pieces of it to slough off and this shows up as small pieces of matter and blood for about a day after each treatment. SOMEWHERE in all that mess, one would expect that there might be a cancer cell or two! :P

    The purpose of the BCG is to pump up the immune response in the bladder so that should a cancer cell develop the tissues would reject it as they would any other foreign material.

    You are doing great!!

    Sara Anne

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

  • nicke

    Member
    January 14, 2014 at 8:28 am

    I have been doing chemo (Mitomycin) for 8 weeks and yes, I have been seeing “bad cells” in the form of small pieces of tissue floating around in the pee. Most of the time 2-3 days after treatment. Sometimes together with blood. I am not sure about BCG, but I guess it would be about the same, even if BCG works in a different way than antibiotics.

    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

  • dieseldoc

    Member
    January 13, 2014 at 11:25 pm

    You will pee them out but I don’t think you will be able to see them!! You might see a little blood but that is nothing to worry about. Just follow your doctors instructions and you will be good to go. Let us know how it goes.

    T1,NO,MO battling bladder cancer since 2005

Sign In to reply.