Maintenance BCG

I read the stats and then try to ignore them. When I read research I generally go the the discussion section at the end and hope it explains the results in terms I understand. You are right it is hard to sort out how reputable the person doing the research is let alone if the research design really gets at what they need.

Example unrelated to Bladder Cancer. I just read a study today does alcohol help nursing mothers produce more milk as folk wisdom says. The study used wine in orange juice and said it produced the opposite effect. Most of the fold wisdom says drink a glass of beer. So would beer have a different effect. We don't know as they used wine. They could have used beer and non alcoholic beer to check for difference but didn't.

Julie

Alan...the beautiful ballerina is Sophie my 1yr old granddaughter..but she definately takes after me!!!
I definately read too much...i really don't know where stats come from...bad doctors, good doctors, international, whatever.......I wish i could zero in to each of the top everything and top everyone and just get their stats...all i can read is stats from someone compiling from who knows where.....Heck i just found out i'm in a 28% to make it 5 yrs........i really hate stats!....Don't pay any attention to me!!
Pat

I think the debate is about maintenance BCG not the initial BCG. Some will do the whole protocol with BCG for several years. Others will do an initial series and no maintenance. What we do know is that CIS has a high recurrence rate even with maintenance BCG. These days I think it goes into hiding but never really goes away. Julie

Rosemary wrote:
I see. Yes, I'm definitely going to discuss the matter with my uro, and I'll let y'all know what he says.

From what I understand ,D., it isn't a controversy about BCG, per se,
but it seems to be more of a debate between Doctors about the advisability of delayed cystectomy because of trying a BCG protocol.

My Top Doc at UNC Hospital seemed happy for me to be able to go forward with BCG.

Maybe you can ask your Doc what he means about "controversy" and then come back and report to us.

Rosemary