Hi. I am relatively newly diagnosed with bladder cancer and have undergone five of the six prescribed BCG treatments here in Florida. But before my sixth one, my doctor's office called to say they had not received their shipment of the drug. I have called another urologist in town that gives BCG treatments and they too did not received their BCG. I called another urologist's office in another state where I also have a home and they do have BCG.
I have two questions:
1) Is there a shortage? I have now read up on BCG shortages and I know there was one in 2016 but it was solved and supposedly wasn't going to happen again. Also in 2017, one of the two manufacturers in the US exited the market, leaving only Merck. Is there anyone out there who has experienced the same thing recently? Or knows anything about the current BCG supply?
2) I am contemplating asking a urologist at a place that has BCG would give my last treatment, and I have been led to believe by my doctor's nurse that if I could find a doctor to do it, my doctor would approve of it. But she also said other patients have tried that in the past, without luck. So my question is, Have you ever gone to another urologist's office to have the nurse practitioner give you your treatment.
I am asking because I really need to leave Florida to get back to my other place which I'm sure has fallen into disrepair in my absence. I have no way and nobody to help me out back there. I meant to leave Florida in mid-March, when my tumor was found. It is now nearly mid-June. I've gotta go. Thanks