Just curios if this could mean more..

9 years 7 months ago #46773 by melmac95
Replied by melmac95 on topic Just curios if this could mean more..
Thank you so much Cindy for all the information.. I would much rather have too much info than not enough. We will find out tomorrow when my husband is starting his Bcg treatments. They did the skin test on Monday so he has to go and let them look at it tomorrow. Luckily they did tell us that his treatments would be at 8am and on Thursdays so he has it set up with his work that he will be off every Thursday for the next 6 weeks... They did give us a little bit of papers on the treatments so he is prepared to sit when urinating..
Curious, not sure if anything will even happen. But when it comes to the Bcg treatments and sexual intercourse are there any precautions concerning that ?
Like I said, not sure if it would happen but would like to know just in case...

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9 years 7 months ago #46772 by Cindy B.
Replied by Cindy B. on topic Just curios if this could mean more..
I had my first treatment yesterday. Getting it wasn't too bad. They inserted a catheter and injected the fluid that way. A couple of things to take note of. Stop drinking about 4 hours before you're supposed to get the treatment so your bladder is good and empty and it's not so hard to hold the fluid for the 2 hours. About 15-20 minutes before you're ready to release, start drinking.

My instructions were: when it's time to release it, you need to do so sitting down (well I'm a girl so for me that wasn't an issue, but I guess men are supposed to sit also so it won't splash,)flush the toilet, pour 2 cups of undiluted Clorox into the toilet swish it around and let it stand for 15 minutes, then flush. I also used Clorox wipes to wipe the seat top and underneath. Then you are to take a shower and wash your genitals. You are to do this for the next 6 hours while drinking plenty of water. I probably drank a gallon of water over those 6 hours so I was peeing, cleaning and showering a lot! I told my husband I had the cleanest toilet and bottom in Montgomery! (You have to find humor in this)

They suggest that if you have more than one bathroom that you designate one for you and let the other members of your household use another. We do have two so my husband has put a Bio Hazard sign on mine. (His sense of humor)

One other suggestion I would offer is have your treatments early in the day. I had mine at 4:00pm so I wouldn't miss a lot of time at work. Big mistake! Since I couldn't release it until 6:00pm and then had the whole 6 hours regimen afterwards, it was after midnight before I got to bed last night. This morning I have felt kind of weak and shaky inside. I don't know if this is from lack of sleep or if it's from the BCG treatment. Starting to have a little burning when I go, but I've got Pyridium to help with that.

I realize I have probably given you more information than you wanted, but at least you've heard one person's experience.


Cindy

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9 years 7 months ago #46771 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic Just curios if this could mean more..
If the nurse said that there were no side effects, she must not have been discussing BCG treatments!! The purpose of the BCG is to stimulate the immune system in the bladder lining so that it rejects or sloughs off any tumor material that might be there.

The normal reaction after the first few instillations is cramping, urgency, and some bleeding. The next day or so a patient often experiences fatigue. As the treatments continue, these side effects can intensify. It is possible to reduce the dose significantly if they become intolerable. BUT these side effects indicate that the BCG is WORKING, which is exactly what we want to happen.

Many of us here on the Forum have "weathered" BCG treatments quite successfully. A few have had to discontinue them entirely due to side effects. For myself, I went through the entire 2-year regimen of the basic series and then maintenance doses. I was down to 1/3 the original dose at the end. BUT I am now 6 years out and still cancer-free!!

Sara Anne

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator

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9 years 7 months ago #46770 by melmac95
Replied by melmac95 on topic Just curios if this could mean more..
Yes very good news. Praying it stays that way and with treatments it never returns. According to the nurse, there aren't any side affects. Has anyone had any problems with these treatments ?
Good luck Cindy with your treatments...... And thank you all for the prayers...
The following user(s) said Thank You: Cindy B.

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9 years 7 months ago #46766 by Cindy B.
Replied by Cindy B. on topic Just curios if this could mean more..
So glad it's low grade! That's very good news. I start BCG treatments tomorrow. Once a week for 6 weeks. Doctor hasn't said what's after that.

Cindy

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9 years 7 months ago #46764 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic Just curios if this could mean more..
Maintenance BCG has been shown to significantly increase the effectiveness of the treatment. My regimen was slightly different....every three months I had three treatments...until 2 years had elapsed. I would definitely do it if I could tolerate it.

Sara Anne

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator

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