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Being Treated at the VA
64yo M h/o T1HG s/p TURBT 8/2017, induction BCG after
second TURBT 10/2017 and repeat TURBT 2/2017 w/ CTU 4/2018 w/ findings
supicious for recurrence presents for surveillance cysto.
Getting ready for the Fourth TURBT in less then a year.
All I keep hearing from the residents and University Hospital, Cleveland Clinc monitor doctors is, “your bladder will have to be removed.
Last scope a couple weeks ago I asked about trimodal approach instead of bladder removal. My next TURBT is 6/19/2018.
How many times can TURBTS be done?
Any thoughts and encouragement would be greatly appreciated, I’m about to just take my chances with the cancer. -
3 Replies
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Yokwe,
Here is a link to a short article from the American Cancer Society – perhaps you can talk to your doctors about this and ask for their thoughts. Alternatives that are placed into the bladder like BCG are named. These are chemotherapy drugs, not immunotherapy drugs like BCG.
Always there are pluses and minuses. Talk to the Docs, see if using such drugs might allow you to have early treatment soon after TURBT. You can search the drug names for more info.
Do make sure to ask why chemo drugs have not already been offered as a possibility. You and your care team know your situation best.
You really don’t want to let the cancer get to be invasive.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/bladder-cancer/treating/intravesical-therapy.html
Best,
Jack
6/2015 HG Papillary & CIS
3 Years and 30 BCG/BCG+Inf
Tis CIS comes back.
BC clear as of 5/17 !
RCC found in my one & only kidney 10/17
Begin Chemo; Cisplatin and Gemzar
8/18 begin Chemo# 3
Begin year 4 with cis
2/19 Chemo #4
9/19 NED again :)
1/2020 CIS is back
Tried Keytruda, stopped by side effects
Workin on a new plan for 2021
Had the 6 then scoped found tumors. Turbt came back non malignant. Another scope more tumors sissil this time on scope, another turbt scheduled. My first turbt a year ago came back T1HG.
The scopes and turbts keep interfering with bcg maintenance.
So with the scheduled turbt in June I will of had 4 in 10 months.
Yokwe,
A couple of immediate thoughts/questions.
You mention BCG induction. Did you have 6 BCG treatments? Are you on a BCG maintenance program ?
Is your diagnosis papillary, CIS or one of the other bladder cancer types ?On the positive side, “Suspicious” just means the doc is unsure about his visual inspection and wants a biopsy to be sure. It could turn out to not be cancer.
Best,
Jack
6/2015 HG Papillary & CIS
3 Years and 30 BCG/BCG+Inf
Tis CIS comes back.
BC clear as of 5/17 !
RCC found in my one & only kidney 10/17
Begin Chemo; Cisplatin and Gemzar
8/18 begin Chemo# 3
Begin year 4 with cis
2/19 Chemo #4
9/19 NED again :)
1/2020 CIS is back
Tried Keytruda, stopped by side effects
Workin on a new plan for 2021Sign In to reply.
