Hi
My Dad has been diagnosed for High Grade papillary carcinoma with 20 % HG and rest Low grade bladder tumor. Pathology report says
20% HG
80% LG
No Invasion to Lamina Propria and Deep Muscles
Our treatment plan was initial TURBT which removed all the tumor. Urologist took the sample of deep muscles of bladder and prostrate as well to confirm that there is no invasion to surrounding organs. All came out to be negative.
Following TURBT mitomycin C was induced within 24hrs of TURBT.
Doctor suggested BCG for 6 weeks but due to high side effects , we completed only 4 doses. By the end of 4th instillation frequency was very high and burning sensation was on peak. Also Urine test revealed puss cells 40-50 , RBC and blood and proteins as well.
Urologist suggested delay in BCG instillation and advised that we can adjust the remaining two BCG in the maintenance therapy. Let him heal and recover.
My farther is in recovery mode now and frequency and burning also subsided. But Urine infection is still the same. Once he drinks more water , Urine becomes clear with less infection.
Need some advise on below:
1. Is this ca really unmanageable and should I expect that my father will be cured one day?
2. Can I take him to some other reputed place where the medical facility is advance as I belong to a part of world which has substandard Medical Facilities.
3. Can I expect that my father can live a long life after being diagnosed with bladder ca.?
Please advise , I will really really appreciate some advises here
Thanks
Hi Alan,Sara
I have been new to this forum and had recently posted by father case on to this forum. Got the reply from Alan as well. Thanks to him.
As of now my father finished 4 doses of induction course and side effect did not allow us to make the remaining two , as Doc said we should wait for side effect to subside. My father is recovering now from those side effects. Now all family is trying to make him ready and prepared for the maintenance doses after two months. My concern related to the maintenance therapy are below and I will be really obliged if I get them clarified by Sara and Alan
1. With the induction doses we came to know what are the severe side effects to my father and it was urine frequency and burning sensation. Does that mean he will have same side effect in the maintenance doses as well? Could it be more than this like high fever and other severe infection other than UTI?
2. As of now he still has side effect but much reduced. Will the next dose of BCG increase the same and do we again need to stop BCG or reducing the dose ( 80ml to 40ml) will make some difference?
3. Instead of having BCG every 3 months for 3 weeks, can we have one BCG every month for 12 months. This was its easy to tolerate and i came across one study where it was tried to reduce the side effects.
4. Are the first two maintenance courses after 3 and 6 months more aggressive as the interval between them is only 3 months while 12 , 18, 24 , 30 & 36 has 6 months in between?
5. How can we reduce the side effect of frequency and burning to minimum?
I would appreciate the replies for above
Thanks in advance