No Cystoscopy after BCG treatments?

8 years 7 months ago #49171 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic No Cystoscopy after BCG treatments?
Normally surgery (known as a TURB...transurethral resection of the bladder) is not done unless the urologist has reason to believe that there is a
problem and needs to do a biopsy.

The usual procedure after diagnosis of bladder cancer and BCG treatment is to have cystoscopy (where a small camera is used so that the urologist can see the bladder lining) which is NOT surgery, no samples are taken, and is done in the office with no anesthesia. The usual protocol is that this is done every three months for two years after diagnosis, then every six months until five years have passed, and then annually forever. If, during this exam, the urologist sees something unusual he will then move on to a TURB.

I would be surprised if your husband's urologist does not plan on cystoscopy about a month or so after the BCG series is completed. Sometimes BCG is not effective and the tumors can return. Youi might want to clarify this with the doctor.

Sara Anne

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

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8 years 7 months ago #49170 by hollywd51
No Cystoscopy after BCG treatments? was created by hollywd51
Hello, It's been awhile since I've posted to the forum. My husband has been diagnosed with bc since February 2015 after peeing blood for 7 years; non invasive, high grade. They removed a large tumor right next to the ureter. He just completed his 6th BCG treatments a month ago. They didn't mention a Cystoscopy surgery to make sure nothing has come back. They just gave him his next bcg treatment appt for February 2016. That's about 6 months from now! I think that's odd to not have the surgery to make sure there are no more tumors. Can someone shine a light on this? Should we call the Dr just to make sure they didn't make a mistake?

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