Can I safely skip 6th treatment?

My Uro was also reluctant to reduce the strength of BCG - until the 21st dose. At that one time (the last dose of the maintenance series) he reduced it to 50%. I could barely hold the BCG for more than 45 minutes. I did receive an answer to my email from Dr Lamm - he said dose could go down to !/3.
Dr Lamm's response:
"Reducing BCG does not generally reduce efficacy, in fact there is evidence
it can increase it. I would reduce your dose to less than 1/3 or so.
You can hold it for a short time as well to reduce side effects"
Don Lamm, MD

Nix

I've decided if the Doc doesn't want to reduce the strength, I'm going to reduce the dwell time myself...out of self-preservation. I'm thinking I might just race home, roll around on all sides while gulping a couple glasses of water and let nature take its course. Anything wrong with this approach?

I am on 1/3 dose and still have some effects, but generally gone after 24 hours. I visited with Dr. Lamm and my doctor follows his protocol. 2 years cancer free so far.

Ross

You hit it on the head, Slabman!! My last two doses were at
"half-strength." And Dr. Lamm has reports going down much "diluter" than that. My uro says "who knows what the proper dose is?" It was determined by what was used in previous studies...no one has ever done a controlled study on what the dose should be.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I will do my darndest to continue this. And yes, the side effects get worse as you progress since your immune system is being primed to react. Not pleasant, but what we are aiming for.

Sara Anne

To those who have experienced increasing side effects with progressive treatments...have any of you discussed with and received from your Doc a diluted mix of BCG? Dr. Lamm feels a diluted dosage is the way to go in these instances and, in fact, has said the efficacy may be even better. I need to discuss this with my Doc for my upcoming treatments, but I know he doesn't subscribe to my complaints of arthritic side effects. All I know is I am suffering more and more from this.

I think if your reactions are too bad, Uros sometimes hold off on a treatment, but I do have increasing effects each time I go through the maintenance as well. Seems to me that doing something (even 5/6) is better than doing nothing.

Ross