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Too old too bennifit!
Am 77 yrs of age Had 1st TURBT in July 2014 Biopsy report was High Grade. Early September new Cystcopy showed new tumors and was scheduled for 2nd TURBT but underwent Quadruple ByPass before
TURBT could be done. Finally had 2nd TURBT 1-7-15 . Biopsy showed low grade this time but Doctor said because cancer came back so quickly he wanted me to do 6 week BCG treatment. My question is this at my age is their really any benifit of doing treatments ? Being realistic, life expectancy for men is US is approximately 83. My present thinking , though some what depressing, is that I’ll die of normal ills before cancer gets bad enough to do me in, After viewing side effects from BCG several people have endured not sure that will improve whatever quality of life I already have. Before you label me a quitter please weigh my reasoning however misguided it may seem to be. Looking for honest options !
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5 Replies
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OK! Here you go. I had BCG treatments and had no side effects and no discomfort other than trying to hold it in for 2 hours. You had bypass surgery! This will be like getting a shot in the butt!
T1,NO,MO battling bladder cancer since 2005
Absolutely I would go with the treatment. It is definitely doable, in the majority of patients the side effects are relatively short lived. I guess at the moment you are fed up of hospitals and treatments, after your bypass op, but I would go for it.( Not trying to make light of this, but I think your bypass surgeon would agree with me also – if you just had an engine rebuild,you wouldn·t scrap the car cause it needed new tyres!)
Diane
Heck, my Dad was bowling and enjoying life until 10 days before he passed at 88. BCG is not the end of the earth! At least give your self a chance to let it work.
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.
Too Old?????
My dad was over 80 when he had both knees replaced!!!!Are you ready to give up??? I don’t think so !!!!
As Sara Ann said…….. The people who have had issues are more likely to post here. The ones that have BCG and don’t have issues are probably not putting up messages.
So. How old do you feel? Do you feel young enough to have a bump in the road and overcome it?
YES YOU DO !!!Life is here to be LIVED with GUSTO! And every opportunity to keep on living is a reason to “Get the treatment” If you don’t have the will to keep on going….. Then just roll over now cuz you’re already dead.
I get the feeling you are not ready to say goodbye yet.
George
ps.. By the way, my dad is 88 now and plans on “keeping me on my toes” for another decade.
Light a man a fire and he is warm for an evening.
Light a man ON fire and he’s warm forever.08/08/08…RC neo bladder
09/09/09…New Hip
=
New Man! [/size]
I moved your post here where more people who might reply will see it!
No, you are NOT too old for BCG! It is not like regular chemotherapy with all of its side effects. Rather it is instilled directly into the bladder where its purpose is to stimulate the immune system to reject the cancer cells in the bladder lining. Yes, some people do have discomfort with it. I sort of think of it like a trip to the dentist…but most patients have no more than temporary discomfort for a day or so after treatment.
BCG can be life saving and is definitely worth it! You have been through a lot with your heart issues. Surely something that is done in the doctor’s office and then you go home is worth trying.
Remember that the statistics that you are quoting are just that…statistics.
You might live another 10 years or so with bladder cancer, but it wouldn’t be fun. You also might get hit by a truck tomorrow!!Also remember that people who have problems with BCG are more likely to post than those of use whose issues are minor.
Please consider this carefully!!
Sara Anne
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
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