Finished BCG and still have questions

15 years 10 months ago #17052 by Julie
Replied by Julie on topic Finished BCG and still have questions
Tate, I think this is something you should bring up with your Dr. Have they done a CT scan yet after your Bladder Cancer diagnosis. I don't know that any of us could say what is going on. The only reference I have is when my sister had kidney cancer and before it was diagnosed she lost weight, was fatigued and anemic. As soon as her kidney was removed she regained the weight and was no longer anemic but the fatigue lasted a lot longer. I am not saying this is what is happening just that it should be looked into by your Doctor. Julie

Volunteer Coordinator
ABLSC

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15 years 10 months ago #17041 by tate
Replied by tate on topic Finished BCG and still have questions
Sara.anne and Slabman- some of the symptoms I felt before the surgery were weight loss I lost 12 lbs between Feb and April(without trying). Extreme fatique, dull pain in abdomen area ( which I was use to because of the scar tissue and long history of endometriosis)Aparently I am still losing. Several people have asked asked me this week how much I have lost...(Still not trying) Well I have lost 7 more pounds since 4/17 and I feel alittle nervous...about still losing weight and being tired.

I have my 2nd BCG tomorrow so not sure if I should really worry or just wait until treatments are over or say something now.

Anyway didn't mean to ramble about me just thought I would share that I was having some of the same symptoms before dx.
-Tate

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15 years 10 months ago #17037 by slabman
Replied by slabman on topic Finished BCG and still have questions
Sara, I had a staph infection in Mar. 2007 following back surgery. After a 5 week stint of daily IV's I guess it was cured, but I did have instances during the summer where I'd get discomfort in my lower abdomen. I thought it was the staph coming back and went to the ER a few times, but no one found anything. The infectious disease Doc said I was cured and this didn't make any sense. I also had pain in the abdomen when sitting up from a lying position. Stupid me...I thought it had to do with mechanical weakness due to the back surgery. Then later in the summer/fall I'd get tired in late morning and in mid-afternoon. If I was driving the motorhome, I'd have to stop and take a nap in the bed, much to the consternation of my wife. She thought it was just a result of me staying up too late. The fatigue has continued through my BC diagnosis and after the removal. Sure would like to get that behind me.... :(

Bob
T1 G3
Age 66
DX April 2008
TURB April 2008
Last BCG (#15) April 2009

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15 years 10 months ago #17028 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic Finished BCG and still have questions
Slabman, I was interested in your comments on "symptoms" prior to diagnosis. We all hear that blc is usually asymptomtic. However, I dropped about 17 lb rather suddenly and for several months just felt "awful." Nothing that I could describe very accurately, but just felt not good. Maybe this was just my body's reaction to the constant cystitis symptoms.

Sara Anne

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
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15 years 10 months ago #17009 by slabman
Replied by slabman on topic Finished BCG and still have questions
Sara, I too, have had a LOT of fatigue dating back to last fall before I even knew that thing was growing in me! I still have to take a nap almost daily, so I'm not sure it's just the body's fatigue with fighting this enemy and/or the BCG....likely both. As for the frequency, I have the same, but haven't chosen to make it an issue at this time.

Bob
T1 G3
Age 66
DX April 2008
TURB April 2008
Last BCG (#15) April 2009

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15 years 10 months ago #16997 by sara.anne
Finished BCG and still have questions was created by sara.anne
Had my sixth BCG last Wednesday. Since Friday have felt completely wiped out..just plain overwhelming fatigue. Suspect it is from the BCG, but had no other side effects. Since this waited until the last treatment, it was quite doable.

Still have some questions for those of you with experience. The only symptom of blc I had was a bad cystitis...lots of ugency, burning... Never had any blood in the urine. My urologist says that this is sometimes typical of CIS. Now I wonder how long after the BCG it "should" take for the symptoms to disappear. They are much better, but I still find that I need to keep taking the Urelle. Anyone know what I should expect?

Will have cytoscopy on July 1, and if everything goes as planned, will have maintenance BCG in mid-August.

Sara Anne

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