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Why not BCG after TURBT instead of only surveillance?
Hello.
My recent TURBT found low-grade, noninvasive papillary carcinoma (Ta) presenting in multiple tumors.
I was glad for that diagnosis but surprised that the advised course of action was only surveillance (beginning in three months) instead of an initial instillation of BCG. (I’m a man in his early 50s) My cursory (and nonexpert) reading of the literature found that BCG could lower the otherwise high recurrence rate, especially given the multiple tumors at diagnosis. Is this issue an ongoing debate in treatment? Have others been advised differently?
Many thanks in advance.
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2 Replies
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Hi I’m in my late 30s. Was diagnosed over 9 years ago with Ta non invasive bladder cancer but my tumor size was 3-4 cm. Today I had my second TURBT and they found a recurrent tumor 1/2-1cm. In the interim I had one biopsy done 7 years ago and it was again superficial non invasive bladder cancer. I was thinking the same way about intravesical BCG since I never received one before. Would that be an option?
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BCG is very effective in preventing recurrence with HIGH GRADE non-invasive bladder cancer….not so much with low grade. Since BCG is not without side effects, your urologist is correct in advising close surveillance for a while instead.
Sara Anne
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
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