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Some bleeding four weeks after BCG – normal?
I’d like to start by saying how glad I am to have discovered this forum — I had been googling for info on inflammation following BCG. Thank you so much! I have learned more in the past few days than over the previous four months since being diagnosed with BC — and from reading your posts, I still have a lot to experience and to learn.
I had a TURB on 4/13 to remove a papillary carcinoma and to laser out as much as possible of a Carcinoma In Situ (CIS?). Then four weeks later a round of 6 weekly BCG which concluded on 6/12. I’m scheduled for a cyto and possibly TURB exam on 7/19.
My concern is bleeding and severe pain, mainly in the urethra. The worst bleeding was as you might expect about a third of the way thru the BCG sessions — a lot of large clots and blood one 12 hour period. My concern, however, is that now, nearly four weeks after my last BCG I’m still having pretty severe pain when voiding and occasional blood, although not too much. Is that pretty standard? :-
Of course like most of the posts I have read my main concern is keeping my bladder because all Uro surgeons will tell you right up front that if two sessions of BCG don’t work their recommendation is to remove the bladder and of course that’s scary. The Dr. did mention the possibility of radiation and chemo but said it posed a high risk of allowing the cancer to spread.
Thanks again to all of you who have posted your personal experiences, thoughts and feelings. I appreciate you. :)
David Doyle
63 yrs old, still working
Houston, TX
(using Tri-Care Military health insurance – retired Navy Reserve) -
7 Replies
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Rosemary,
Yep, I’m tough, no problem :)
I’m new to all this and it really helps to receive an encouraging word from folks who have been there before.
Thanks,
David
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David,
I am so glad that you went back and got the cytology test done. Your doctor will have that report in his hand in time for your appointment on the 10th. That should help speed things up a little once he makes an evaluation.
Hang in there, Bud. I just don’t know why this is taking so long to get a test result.
Your friend,
Rosemary
Rosemary
Age – 55
T1 G3 – Tumor free 2 yrs 3 months
Dx January 2006
Update (some info may be redundant to what’s shown on my other topic in Men’s Issues)
two and a half weeks and two urine cultures later, they can detect no infection. I have been through a full course of sulfa antibiotics and 9 days of Celebrex anti-inflammatory and the pain/bleeding are still there. Last Friday 7/27 I went in on my own and left a specimen and instructed them to order a urine cytology test for cancer cells. My URO is still on vacation until 8/10 and I was getting a bit nervous even though they don’t seem too concerned. Perhaps they see this all the time after BCG. In my case my last BCG instillation was 6/11 (7 weeks ago). Perhaps they are right :- ??? Meanwhile the blood & clots seem to have increased slightly over the weekend but still erratic.
Won’t have cyto results untill approx 8/7 or 8.
David
Wendy,
You are correct — I DID go to the Dr. yesterday and had a urine culture (cloudy, full of white cells) and he prescribed a sulfa antibiotic to clear things up so I can hopefully have my cysto next Thursday, otherwise will have to wait 3 weeks til he returns from vacation. I asked him if the infection could have been causing some blood in the urine and an occasional clot and he said yes, it could. He did scold me for waiting so long to come in but my excuse was that I thought the pain was totaly due to BCG, but then the bleeding started a few days ago. I guess the main thing is, if in doubt, don’t delay calling your Dr.Thanks,
David
Hi Doyle,
I’ve never had BCG (and don’t have bladder cancer either, my sister does/did), but from hanging around this place so much I have heard a thing or two, and your story perks my antennae and makes me think you might have an infection. Can you get there sooner for a urine culture?
Sure it could be side effects like you describe from BCG, but 4 wks after treatment ends is a long time to be feeling like that.
Call the doctor!
I hope the BCG does it’s job on you.
Best,
Wendy
Alice,
Thank you for taking the time to reply and offer encouragement. By the way, good luck on your cysto on 7/18 — mine is the next day.
I will follow your advice and let my Uro know about the pain (he’s also the one who administers the BCG). It’s pretty hard to get a word in with him since he’s extremely busy and has a tendency to discount pain and to attribute everything to the BCG and resulting symptoms.David Doyle
Hello David and Welcome to the board. I am sorry to hear about your cancer and the pain, but if you need a place for answers, then you have come to the right forum.
I have noticed the traffic on the board has been a bit slow, but I am sure someone will come through to help/give you suggestions.
I feel anytime there is blood and pain involved, a doctor needs to be consulted. Did you happen to mention it to your URO or the one administering the BCG?
Alice
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