Member Blogs

BCG may not be appropriate to treat you tumors.  It is essential to know both the stage and grade before beginning treatment, since BCG is not effective for tumors on either end of the spectrum.  For invasive tumors, it's too late for BCG.  For the least invasive (i.e. stage TA, grade 1) there is no evidence that BCG helps.  I don't think your uro should be making treatment decisions without knowing the stage and grade, and he can't know this by zapping the tumors.  He has to surgically remove them and send them to the pathology lab.

So once this is done (no thanks to your uro!), if the stage and grade is between TA grade II/II and T1 III/III, then by all means, begin that BCG treatment.  But otherwise, the BCG is unlikely to be of any help, and may simply create additional and unnecessary damage to your bladder.

Crilly,

Sorry if I was not too clear, but my Doctor did stage the tumors during both of my TURBT's.  Both times they were listed as Ta grade0/1.  After the first go-round, we just did the 3 month checkups.  The second occurance was 1.5 years later and due to it being a reoccurance, BCG treatment was decided upon.  My understanding is that BCG is not suggested for low grade/stage tumors, but if there is a reoccurance, then BCG is the prefered treatment to prevent future papillary tumors.

John

Hi Guys,

Just thought I'd butt in here, there is an algorithm charted on the site of the European Ass. of Urology, 'Treatment of Superficial Bladder Cancer. Treatment suggestions for Ta, Grade I tumors are found here:
http://www.bladder-cancer-cour...=1&a=t

According to that chart it is recommended to do an an immediate chemo instillation following TUR to remove the tumor, if another recur of Ta, GI appears, same drill. After a second recur of same, BCG is suggested.

These are just guidelines, the thing about treatments for TCC is that there are very many different approaches, some more or less aggressive than others.

I wish you all the best with BCG and hope you never have another recurrence!
Wendy

Thanks for the info Wendy.  

John

I had my latest cysto done on Friday and bladder is all clear.  It has been 1 year since my last tumor so my Doc is pushing my three month checkups to every four months.  Yea...

Best of luck to all who need it and thanks to everyone for all the information this Web site has provide.  A special thanks to Wendy for starting this whole thing.  The knowledge I have gained from this site has hlep tremendously in understanding and dealing with my bladder cancer.

Thanks
John W

It seems the one instillation of Mitomycin or some other chemo preventative within an hour of resection is now standard procedure for all the bladder cancer speciliast and advisors for web cafe.  Isn't that standard practise for all resections now just those that seem low grade papillary?  Also, now that the grading is being changed to low grade or high grade what happens to the former grade II.  Rosie

Two more scopes and no reoccurence. I can't wait until the Dr more me out to a 6 month schedule.   Best wishes to everyone else on this board who is fighting Bladder Cancer. 
John