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Biospy Results – 6 week BCG
I finished my 6 weeks of BCG treatments for Carcinoma in Situ and got the biopsy results back. Before treatment I have a very large area of the bladder that was affected with very bad and painful symptoms. The biopsy results came back showing that most of the cancer is gone however there is still a small area showing cancer.
Next steps are to begin a second round of 6 treatments beginning next week, I’m ready for that and optimistic since my system reacted well with some positive results the first round.
Reality check was my urologist talked to me today about bladder removal if this second round doesn’t get rid of it all.
6 more treatments, 1 more biopsy and hopefully some more good news.
Regards,
Mike -
17 Replies
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That’s terrific that you eat healthy. My husband does not and I cannot get him to change his ways. Too much meat, not enough fruits and veggies. It is a miracle he has agreed to take the curcumin. Thanks for the inspiration, I’ll try harder to convince him switch to healthier choices which I totally believe in. Laurie
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Laurie / Phil,
I have been taking Tumeric/Curcumin and we have been eating mostly organic diet along with juicing. I’ve eaten healthy most of my life and work out and now stepping it up another notch or 2.
I would not have my bladder removed without trying every option, if I can’t take the BCG for maintenance we will have to use what my Uro thinks is best.
Good luck to you both and don’t give up the fight!
Best wishes.
Mike -
Mike, I hope you are out on that golf course as I type this to you. Let me share that the interferon is a “booster” for the BCG and is usually given with the second round of BCG. If you cannot tolerate BCG, it is our understanding that Valstar (formerly Valrubicin) is used for patients who cannot use BCG and as another shot at beating the bladder cancer if it recurs after a couple rounds of BCG for those who did tolerate it. My husband has non-invasive CIS and had one recurrence of a small malignant lesion after his 2nd round of BCG (Nov 2013). His urologist removed it and continued with 2 more rounds of BCG and since Feb. 2014 all biopsies have been negative. Even so, his Cleveland Clinic uro/surgeon is still recommending bladder removal. We are opting not to do that just yet, instead we continue to do our own research and learn from all the kind folks on the bladder cancer forums before making such a big decision. We’ve recently learned about Tumeric/Curcumin and have ordered it. It is a powerful antioxidant that has cancer fighting properties supported by a lot of research all over the net. We are so grateful for all the folks who have shared their knowledge with us. Mike, keep up the good work on your BC. Laurie & Phil
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Mike, I hope you are out on that golf course as I type this to you. Let me share that the interferon is a “booster” for the BCG and is usually given with the second round of BCG. If you cannot tolerate BCG, it is our understanding that Valstar (formerly Valrubicin) is used for patients who cannot use BCG and as another shot at beating the bladder cancer if it recurs after a couple rounds of BCG for those who did tolerate it. My husband has non-invasive CIS and had one recurrence of a small malignant lesion after his 2nd round of BCG (Nov 2013). His urologist removed it and continued with 2 more rounds of BCG and since Feb. 2014 all biopsies have been negative. Even so, his Cleveland Clinic uro/surgeon is still recommending bladder removal. We are opting not to do that just yet, instead we continue to do our own research and learn from all the kind folks on the bladder cancer forums before making such a big decision. We’ve recently learned about Tumeric/Curcumin and have ordered it. It is a powerful antioxidant that has cancer fighting properties supported by a lot of research all over the net. We are so grateful for all the folks who have shared their knowledge with us. Mike, keep up the good work on your BC. Laurie & Phil
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Alan,
I’m golfing tomorrow even with some minor discomfort from the biopsy. Life is great!
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Raider,
Great news! Now, make me feel even better by getting on the golf course!
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.
Thanks all, for the maintenance treatments we have to decide how to proceed. I’ve asked my Uro if we can reduce the dose even more then we did previously. We finished at 1/3 on my last treatment and he mentioned 1/10 as a possibility. I mentioned to him that I’ve read 1/100 or even 1/1000 could be effective. HE said that he needs to look into it and also look into Interferon alone as a possibility but he isn’t too sure about that. I’m wondering if the Valrubicin would be an option as well. We have 6 months to get that part figured out, for now I get a 3 month break before my next cystoscopy.
This site has been amazing and helpful for me along the way, best wishes to you all and thanks for all the support!
Mike
Super Good News, Raider! Keep the good reports coming! And an encouraging word to share: My husband has CIS. He has had a total of 20 BCGs and his last 3 rounds of biopsies (since November of last year) have all been negative! We too are feeling that for some it may take longer for BCG to kick in. But we realize he is not out of the woods on this totally. His choice is to continue with surveillance vs cystectomy at this point even though the urology oncologists recommend RC. Very frustrating for us. Can you share what type of BC you have? Again, my husband’s is CIS. Laurie & Phil
Great news! When you get those results, the whole world seems brighter!!
Diane
Congratulations, That is very good news for you! It seems that the BCG sometimes need a little more time to do the job.
Have you decided about the maintenance treatment? In previous posts, you have written that you had to stop the BCG treatment half way into the second round, and that you are going to use something else as maintenance therapy.
Niklas12-12 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
Biopsy results in, no cancer. Start maintenance program in 3 months!! Relieved is the best word to describe how I’m feeling
Going in for my 3rd biopsy Monday, this is to see how I did with the 2nd round of treatments. I’m hoping for the best but prepared for the worst, I will update with results and next steps once I get them
Hi Mike,
Thank you for your reply. We too have been told that the protocol is bladder removal if the 2nd round of BCG + Interferon does not result in a negative biopsy report. The strange thing for my husband is that his local urologist believed in continued treatments with BCG and did two more rounds. In brief, his history goes like this: Feb 2013 – CIS discovered, 6 BCGs given; June 2013 no invasive carcinoma seen, 6 BCG + Interferon given; Nov 2013 small malignant tumor in situ removed followed by 6 BCGs; Feb 2014 all biopsies negative, 3 BCGs given; April 2014 all biopsies negative; July 2014 all biopsies negative. I guess we are waiting to see cancer return before being comfortable with bladder removal and the lifestyle change it will cause. Others, I realize, would opt for removal immediately if a Cleveland Clinic urology oncologist told them it was imperative to do so for best overall outcome. Statistics say there is a 30-60% chance of recurrence. How would one know if they are in the percentile that it does not recur? Our local urologist told him that bladders have been removed and biopsied and proven to not have cancer. He used to remove bladders himself but now only removes kidneys and prostate. We haven’t asked him directly but we suspect he opted not to follow Cleveland Clinic’s protocol of removing a bladder even if the biopsy reports show all negative, just a speculation on our part. While my husband has not yet made his final decision, you may want to check back with us in the future to see what he decided and how he faired which may help you if you arrive at this point of having to make a decision for Radical Cystectomy or to continue with surveillance until cancer shows again. The risk of course is that it could reappear with a vengeance and also break through the bladder wall becoming invasive vs. his current stage of non-invasive. Such a hard decision. We wish the best of luck to you with the 2nd round of BCG, and please let us know if we can answer any questions you may have as you continue with this battle. Laurie & Phil 8/5/14
Laurie & Phil,
My 2nd round of treatments didn’t go as well as the 1st, after the 3rd treatment in the 2nd round I had to stop the BCG. By bladder has a severe reaction and we were at a 1/3 dose, I finished the last 3 treatments with Interferon only. I will have another biopsy at the end of August o see where I’m at. If I’m clear we will have to do something else for the maintenance program. If I still show cancer on the biopsy we will try one more round of treatments using Valrubicin. My Uro has stated that we have some options but he has prepared me that I may have to have the bladder removed.
Good luck & best wishes to your husband!
Mike
Hi Mike,
How are you doing with treatment? My husband has CIS of the bladder. He has had a total of 20 BCGs (March 2013-Jan 2014); second round included interferon. His cystoscopies and biopsies since February of this year (18 biopsies) have all been negative and his most recent CT and chest Xray in July were negative! Wonderful news, right? Well… our dilemma is that the Cleveland Clinic surgeons are insisting he must have his bladder removed, stating that “statistically” the cancer “will come back”. We’ve been told he is playing Russian Roulette by not having it removed. He is still at stage 0, non-invasive. What have you been advised for future surveillance and treatment?
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