urethral stricture preventing BCG treatment

8 years 5 months ago #49549 by jude
would you have used mem sloan kettering for the surgery? ( it's closer to my location)

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8 years 5 months ago #49541 by OldEngineer
Replied by OldEngineer on topic urethral stricture preventing BCG treatment
I second that; I am in Somerset County right next to you (Hillsborough Township) and I got a second opinion at Memorial Sloan Kettering. I assume you use Hunterdon Medical Center? I use Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Somerset Campus or New Brunswick Campus, they do provide excellent care; my urologist is Dr. Neel Shah but there are others around here who are also excellent, one thing we do not lack for in NJ is superb doctors!

T1 high grade transcell diagnosed 8/14/2015
TURBT 8/21/2015, removed tumor (17mmX14mmX11mm)
Repeat TURBT performed 9/25/2015
Pathology Report: no residual cancer detected
BCG planned starting in October

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8 years 5 months ago #49535 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic urethral stricture preventing BCG treatment
Might be worth a consult/second opinion at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC.
If CIS is present it is a really good idea to get through the BCG. The only other, non-bladder instillation option is to have the bladder removed. You do not fool with CIS.

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 5 months ago #49531 by jude
Sara
I'm in central nj near Flemington 08822

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8 years 5 months ago #49528 by jude
I'm in central NJ near Flemington

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8 years 5 months ago #49514 by OldEngineer
Replied by OldEngineer on topic urethral stricture preventing BCG treatment
Jude - other than Sara Anne's excellent advice, here are a few other thoughts.

First, prostate enlargement is usually treated prior to the procedure with a drug called tamsulosin (which relaxes the muscles in that area). Do you recall whether you received such a drug beforehand, either orally or intravenously? I have some benign prostate enlargement myself and after one dose of that, I found I could urinate better than I had in years.

Second, if there is a stricture (which usually means scar tissue partially blocking the urethra), that can be removed ("ablated") and my urologist told me that if I develop such a condition, he would recommend removal to minimize the change that the urethra could become fully blocked precluding urination, obviously a very serious condition.

Finally, the size of the catheter used for the BCG is 14 French (3/16th of an inch) which is 1/2 of the size used for the TURB (28 French - 3/8th of an inch), so it is indeed unusual for a stricture to obstruct such a small diameter catheter. If your urethra has unusual twists or turns, that is another matter - I can't comment on that.

Good luck to you!!

T1 high grade transcell diagnosed 8/14/2015
TURBT 8/21/2015, removed tumor (17mmX14mmX11mm)
Repeat TURBT performed 9/25/2015
Pathology Report: no residual cancer detected
BCG planned starting in October

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