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    Has anyone else followed this BCG maintenance schedule?

    Posted by Eight15 on February 23, 2018 at 4:00 pm

    Start of Discussion
    0 of 0 replies June 2018
    Now

    My schedule is as follows: I just finished the first 6 treatments. I’ll have my next cysto in six weeks then the following week the start of the next 3 BCG weekly maintenance treatments. Then 3 months after that I’ll have a cysto and the next week start 3 weekly BCG treatments again. I’ll have BCG maintenance the week after after every cysto for 4 years. So BCG will be every 3 months for two years then every 6 months for two years.

    Has anyone else followed this schedule?

    History:
    8/15 1 LG superficial
    4/17 2 LG superficial
    11/17 1 LG superficial

    Sean T replied 7 years, 1 month ago 4 Members · 4 Replies
  • 4 Replies
  • Sean T's avatar

    Sean T

    Member
    February 26, 2018 at 9:54 pm

    I am on a similar treatment plan as Sara Anne. I am at 18 months and just got an all clear cysto today so I start another three rounds of BCG. Then, in August, if I am still clear, I’ll start my last three rounds of BCG. That would be my two year mark. Then I do cystos every three or six months probably for another three years.

    08/16/16 – TURBT – 1 tumor, T1HG, 7.5 cm x 7.5 cm x 1.8 cm, non-invasive papillary.
    BCG treatments (15 doses total – last March, 2018). As of latest cysto on June 30, 2024, cancer free!
  • Dolphin69's avatar

    Dolphin69

    Member
    February 25, 2018 at 11:20 pm

    No, but your Dr. must have had success working with this protocol. My Dr. told me that after the first 6 treatments with BCG, some protocols call for follow up treatment. My first BCG treatment was followed up by intermittent treatments over 3 years. Held the cancer at bay for 14 years. Had a few surgeries for reoccurrence and now having 6 weeks of BCG/Interferon treatment.

  • eight15's avatar

    eight15

    Member
    February 23, 2018 at 5:07 pm

    Hi Sara Anne, I really appreciate your response, thank you so much! I think I was just surprised that I would have the BCG every 3 months for 2 years. So for I’ve tolerated the BCG pretty well. I know it’s cumulative, but I’m hoping the 9 or 10 weeks between treatments will help lessen the side effects.

    Thanks again!

  • sara.anne's avatar

    sara.anne

    Member
    February 23, 2018 at 4:09 pm

    As you have probably discovered, there are a number of BCG schedules being used. They all seem to be effective.
    However, it has been shown that maintenance BCG does increase the effectiveness significantly. The protocol I was on is similar to yours, except that I only had the maintenance doses for two years. BCG does have side effects and they increase with exposure. By the time I finished I was on 1/3 the initial dose.

    Good luck….you are on the right path!! We will hope it works for you too

    Sara Anne

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

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