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BCG treatments
I had a TUBIT done 6 week ago. The cancer found was non-invaslive high grade. The treatment of choice was BCG. I am now on a waiting list for the treatment. What length of time between the TUBIT and the beginning of the treatment is considered a reasonable time. Should I be concerned about a tumor growing back while I wait for the BCG? Thanks
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5 Replies
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Also diagnosed with arthritis
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I have just had me second TURBT non muscle invasive high grade surgery and also now waiting for BCG treatment to start .. I am concerned as only 48 when diagnosed and including Raynard’s which developed last year after covid vaccine I now have bladder cancer . I recieved 3 vaccine in total last one was mat 2022 had anyone else experienced a sudden decline in health a year after vaccination when I was fit as fiddle prior and never suffered from anything and my immune system was working a treat now has shown lots of health issues but strangely enough I never suffer from colds etc
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I was also diagnosed with non-invasive bladder cancer. Tumors that were removed with 2 separate TURBT surgeries.<div>
My doctor treated me with mitomycin, and then has since ordered BCG treatments.
But apparently there is a worldwide shortage of BCG, only one lab I understand grows the bacteria. MERCK.
I would like to know how long it takes a doctor to get the BCG medicine to treat me. I am on a list, and have been waiting 7 weeks now.
I have no idea what’s going on in my bladder right now.
Thank you for your reply
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To answer your question, there was a large joint clinical study by MD Andersons Cancer Center in Texas, Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida and Levine Cancer Institute in North Carolina to find out how the timing of BCG after TURBT will affects effective ness of BCG treatment.
Over 500 patients were involved, with a median (range) of 26 (6-188) days from TURBT, their studies showed the following conclusion.
The rates of tolerability and response to adequate BCG are not predicated by the timing of induction BCG instillation after TURBT. Early administration in properly selected patients is safe and delays do not affect therapeutic response. So, I would not worry much yet.
The study on timing of BCG after TURBT
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33783950/As Alan mentioned, if the delay persists without knowing when you have have BCG treatment, one option is to participate on the clinical trial on the clinical trial BRIDGE which is to compare Gemcitabine + Docetaxel intravesical chemotherapy vs BCG for BCG naïve patients.
Gemcitabine + Docetaxel protocol was developed by University of Iowa team under Dr. Michael O’Donnell, who is known as one of early Guru for non muscle bladder cancer along with Dr. Donald Lamm of University of Arizona, now retired. Gemcitabine + Docetaxel protocol was used for those patient who did not respond to BCG, but during BCG shortage, it was used also BCG naïve patients with very good result. I think this trial is good trial for patients because patient will receive either GEM/ODC treatment or BCG treatment.Link to the clinical trial information
https://www.cancer.gov/research/participate/clinical-trials-search/v?id=NCI-2022-04864&r=1best
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1st, you needed to wait at least 4-6 weeks to let the TURB heal. Which is what your URO is doing. The vast majority of these types of tumors don’t grow that fast. However, at 6 weeks you are healed, and they need to get you started. Another 2-4 weeks probably is not an issue however, I’d want to know about any backup plans if delays persist. There have been other agent combinations that have been used that have been successful. Mitomycin is one. I believe the combo of doxetal and gembetacine (I think I have butchered both names) as heated or warmed before instillation is another. Your URU should be up to speed on this as it has been out 12+ months. Perhaps another practice might also have some BCG.
Keep posting as you go. Someone should be lurking to help answer questions.
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.
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