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Six weeks after BCG symptoms return
This is my first post on this forum. My husband had six weeks of BCG treatments for CIS high grade, ending six weeks ago. He was feeling good up until a couple weeks ago, when he started doing some yard work and then burning on urination started up again. We saw the doctor this week. He took a urine sample which showed no infection. We have to wait until this coming Wed for the rest of the results, i.e. cancer cells in the urine or not. Our question is, what can be causing this bladder inflammation? Can the cancer come back this quickly? My husband also has reflux of his urine from bladder to kidney (we just found out).
Thanks in advance. We’re happy to have found you.
Barbara
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6 Replies
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If he is having burning pain, the doctor may be able to prescribe some pyridium for him. Turns the urine orange but it relieves pain and burning in the bladder.
CIS is a nasty bugger. I had it back in 2006 and it came back again after a couple of years. Wound up having my bladder out but I attribute part of that to the fact that I failed BCG. Had bad reactions so my doc stopped it.
The BCG could cause inflammation after finishing the first round of treatment. If he had CIS he should be scheduled to get maintenance BCG in six months. BCG is great for CIS but the ongoing maintenance treatments of BCG are very, very important when dealing with CIS.
Also, BCG causes the bladder to do battle with cancer cells. If CIS is coming back (and yes it can come back fast) it could be the BCG causing his bladder to trigger the immune response. That’s part of what BCG is supposed to do.
If he does have a recurrence and he isn’t already being seen by a bladder cancer specialist at one of the top bladder cancer hospitals then I would STRONGLY recommend a 2nd opinion. He doesn’t want to underestimate CIS.
Mike
Age 54
10/31/06 dx CIS (TisG3) non-invasive (at 47)
9/19/08 TURB/TUIP dx Invasive T2G3
10/8/08 RC neobladder(at 49)
2/15/13 T4G3N3M1 distant metastases(at 53)
9/2013 finished chemo -cancer free again
1/2014 ct scan results….distant mets
2/2014 ct result…spread to liver, kidneys, and lymph system
My opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of ABLCS or anyone else. I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV.
Thanks for everyone’s replies. I have a hard time keeping him from over-doing it!
Barbara
BCG can have affects for some time from what I have read and heard from other survivors. Wait up and see what the tests read. I excercised regulalrly while doing BCG but I am not a doctor I would ask a urolgisist his opinion. I would like others to comment on exercise and BCG.
Cynthia Kinsella
T2 g3 CIS 8/04
Clinical Trial
Chemotherapy & Radiation 10/04-12/04
Chemotherapy 3/05-5/05
BCG 9/05-1-06
RC w/umbilical Indiana pouch 5/06
Left Nephrectomy 1/09
President American Bladder Cancer Society
Barbara,
I think you are right. Your husband might want to take it a little easy right now to let his body heal.
Anita
Anita
Forum Moderator
Caregiver
Yes, he did a cystoscopy and said the bladder was inflamed. He took a urine sample and those results show there is no infection. He’s also checking the urine for cancer cells and that test won’t be back until this Wednesday! Meanwhile my husband took some Motrin and the burning is subsiding. He’s a very active person and once he started feeling better after the BCG he’s been doing some heavy work in the yard. The burning seems to have started since then. Perhaps he’s doing too much too soon?
Did your uro do cystoscopy or just check the urine? Mid-way into my maintenance BCG I had “BCG-cystitis” or an irritated bladder caused by the BCG. My uro saw the irritation during cystoscopy, did a small biopsy (really didn’t hurt!!) and determined that it was NOT a return of the cancer. Healed a few weeks later.
There are all kinds of things that can be going on here. Your uro should keep on top of it.
Sara Anne
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
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