Hi Annebelle,
First let my extend my sympathy at the loss of your son. That has to be so difficult.
I also smoked and lived in a steel company town, during the years that the environment wasn't in our vocabulary.
Six years ago when I was dx'd, I was told smoking is the cause of bladder cancer, however after finding this sight, I can tell you there are a lot of people that never smoked. I quit 17 yrs. before my bladder cancer, but I am sure that was the result of smoking and environment. Doesn't really matter, we have to deal with what is on our plate right now.
Your BCG schedule does differ from mine. My doctor went by Dr Lamm's schedule. Once a week for six weeks, then after three months a cysto (to ck bladder) and BCG once a wk for three weeks. I did 24 BCG's and other people on this site did 30.
As for the genetic possibility, my brother was dx'd two years before me, but we both were previous smokers and had the same environment growing up. (he is 8 years out cancer free)
I am not a doctor, but having been on this site for 6 years, I would say you have to have a TURB to remove tumors, esp. to make sure all of the tumor has been removed and for the patient's comfort!
Nancy