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how long is the usual time between the turb and the bcg
hi I hope someone can tell me if there is a usuall time between starting the bcg treatment and the turb, thanks
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12 Replies
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Rosemary, I found the NCCN Guidelines that you recommended to be very useful. Have earmarked them for future reference.
My uro has scheduled the BCG five and a half weeks after my seond (in three weeks) TURbSara Anne
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator
I also had a TA low grade, but it was 4 CM. I had a stent placed for two weeks because of the location. I started BCG treatments 6 weeks after the stent was removed.
Joe
You know, my TURB was for a Ta tumor, and resulted in very little damage to the bladder (a couple of deep cuts into the the wall and tissue for biopsy. It may be that, in my case, two weeks was enough for that area to heal.
I could see the amount of damage to the bladder being a significant factor in how long they wait to begin BCG treatments. Seems I never stop learning about this stuff. :-
Craig Stockton
On both occasions when I had a TURB followed by 6 weeks BCG, the BCG was scheduled 4 weeks after the TURB. These were 7 years apart with two different doctors, but both apparently used a 4-week guideline, and cited the fact that the bladder needed time to fully heal.
PS, while researching for an answer to this question, I came across this very good reference for Bladder Cancer treatment guidlines. This is the NCCN 2008 Practice Guidelines for Bladder Cancer (The NCCN- National Clincial Practice Guidelines in Oncology – some very illustrious Bladder Cancer Specialists are on board this Panel)
http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/bladder.pdf
Rosemary
Age – 55
T1 G3 – Tumor free 2 yrs 3 months
Dx January 2006
Thanks, Craig
When I think back over my own experience with BCG treatment, having to wait 3/12 months for first induction seems a bit long and risky. I think that I should make it clear, however, that in my case I had already had 2 doses of Mitomycin, one with each TURB.
Have a good day,
Rosemary
Rosemary
Age – 55
T1 G3 – Tumor free 2 yrs 3 months
Dx January 2006From two sources (my urologist and a paper by Dr. Lamm), I have heard that the BCG should start NO SOONER than 14 days after a TURB. My urologist got me started exactly 14 days following my TURB.
As for how much longer than 14 days you should wait, I cannot say. And as for which paper by Dr. Lamm I read this, I cannot recall. I checked my favorite document (his BCG paper on this site), but it was not there. Sorry…
Craig StocktonI think the consideration is now with many places that a second TURB is a prudent way to go for staging purposes. And that might mean a second opinion. As for BCG I’ve read anything from 7 days after the procedure as long as there is no gross hematura to some months. I recently came across an older article written by some of the top specialists in the field and found it interesting as to what they measure pathologically…Its a long article but one i had not seen before on prognosis..
http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/content/full/17/10/3182j
pat
;)Thank you,
Sarahlee,
I can’t find the Guidelines via internet….I went back to my pathologies trying to remember how it went with me. It’s funny how we forget some of these details…
I was diagnosed at the end of January 2006 and as far as I can remember I did not begin BCG’s until sometime in May. (For me, meanwhile, there had been a 2nd TURB, a second opinion, a question of RC, and a third biopsy.)
I feel sure that there must be a determination that the bladder is completely healed from TURB before BCG’s begin.
I will keep my ears open for an answer to this question about BCG timing. Unfortunately, I do not see my Uro again until June.
Best regards,
Rosemary
Rosemary
Age – 55
T1 G3 – Tumor free 2 yrs 3 months
Dx January 2006
Last year I had a TURB on 4/13 and started BCG four weeks later. This allowed the inflammation from the laser removal of the papillary and CIS tumors to subside a bit.
Good luck and you treatment!David
hi,
my dad had his turb on 12/11 along with placement of a stent due to the fact his tumor was next to the ureter opening. he had the stent removed 01/17 and started bcg 01/31 and just finished 2 weeks ago. i beleive some time is needed between for healing. hope this helps.
claudia
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