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Staying at hospital for full 2 hour BCG treatment, what to expect
Next Friday will mark my 24th BCG treatment since being diagnosed 3 years ago. When first diagnosed, I had a high grade flat tumor covering almost my entire bladder. After Turbt and the first 6 treatments, the cancer was still present, so they tried another round of BCG + Interferon. After that round of treatments I had a biopsy and was cancer free. I then went through two rounds (3 ea) maintenance treatments before BCG was restricted to only those with active cancer. After a recent follow up scope and biopsy, the cancer was found to have returned, and I am now at the end of another round of 6 treatments.
This round of treatment has been rough for me. I was able to hold the BCG for 2 hours on the first treatment, 1 hr 45 on the next, 1 hr 30 on the third and only 1 hr each on the last two. I am having bladder spasms and feel the need to pee almost immediately upon receiving the BCG. My nurse encouraged me to contact my urologist and explained that he would likely want me to stay catheterized at the hospital for the final 2 hr. treatment. If any of you have experienced this, what is it like? Do you have any advice for me? Is it more or less painful than a normal treatment? After the last two doses, I really can’t even imagine having it in for >1 hour.
Thanks, Vince
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2 Replies
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Vince,
You are experiencing the cumulative effects of BCG and yours is pretty normal. On my 10th, 11th and 12th my dwell time markedly was reduced to where I couldn’t hold even for 60 minutes. Two unproven takes from this. First, it tells me it probably worked as my body said enough. Plus, it also meant my overall tolerance for BCG was ending at this strength. If I have to do more it would have been at a reduced dosage….which also may be an option for you. As you have had 24 of these and some success with interfuron I’d guess you’re ok. Again, 2 hours is just a suggestion. If the URO suggest another round perhaps 1/3, 14 or even 1/10 dosage is often done.
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.
when required to take Flomax with my chemo treatments and constant bladder spasm it helped a lot??? Good luck. I also sometimes take a muscle relaxer used a lot on MS patients “Tizanidine” prescription and when do my nighttime episodes of having go pee drop from 5-7 down to 1-2.
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