BCG Treatments

I believe there are numbers of different BCG maintenance schedules, with research to support them all. The total number of instillations is actually the same with one per month and the every 3 month schedule, as the every 3 month schedule has BCG treatments for 3 weeks in a row. In both instances, there is a cystoscopy exam every 3 months, but there is usually a a week or so between the exam and the BCG treatment just in case there is minor injury or irritation from the cystoscopy.

Ann

Dianne,

That may be why your husband's doctor is being so aggressive with it. I'm sure you've told him this, but he really needs to stop smoking. My doctor told me that smoking is the number one reason people get bladder cancer.

She was surprised when I told her I had never smoked. Even asked me if I grew up in a house with smokers. I said nope, no second hand smoke either.

Research I've done says dark brown hair color can also be a factor. I did start coloring my hair when I was 30, I went grey early. Dark brown was my natural color, so I colored it dark brown for 20 years. Every 4 weeks like clock work. Had hair down to my waist until I was 40, so that was a lot of dark brown hair color. Going blonde now. I'm only 55 and not ready to go grey yet. Besides, blondes have more fun, or so they say.

Be sure and talk with your husband's doctor about the treatments. Let me know how he does tomorrow.

Cindy

I know the Dr is concerned that my husband continues to smoke plus with the location of the tumor( at the edge of going into his left kidney) Maybe that is the reasoning for the 12 month treatment...

Dianne,

Thanks for thinking of me. That's so sweet of you. I know you have your hands full worrying about your husband.

I guess every doctor's approach is different. I have never heard of the once a month treatment. Mine said once a week for 3 weeks every 3 months for 2 years, for maintenance. Definitely ask you doctor why he/she feels the need. Especially since your husband was Stage 1.

I'll be thinking about him tomorrow.

Cindy

Alan,

Thanks for your response. Drinking plenty of water is one thing I do. All my life I've never drunk sodas or anything with caffeine, I drink over a gallon of water a day. That was why I was so shocked that I would get bladder cancer.

Always taken good care of my body and my kidneys/bladder. They say smoking is a number one cause, I don't smoke. The only thing I can figure is dark brown hair color. I read somewhere that can be a contributing factor. I have colored my hair dark brown for 20 years. And since I am too YOUNG to go gray, I'm going to start going blonde. I've heard blondes have more fun anyway! LOL

My URO says I am young to be diagnosed with this and I guess that is why she is being so aggressive with treatments. Which is fine with me, since this is my second time dealing with this.

I am so glad I found this place. It's been great having others to talk to and share with. Until I got bladder cancer, I didn't even know you could get bladder cancer, had never heard of it. As a woman you always worry about breast, ovarian, cervical cancer. So while I am saddened by the fact that there are others out there like me, I am glad to have found you.

Cindy

Cindy...
I have been thinking about you and your treatments lately. You are a week ahead of my husband. He goes for his 2nd treatment tomorrow morning.


Curious if anyone has heard of maintence Bcg that will be 1 treatment a month for 12 months ? Doesn't that seem alittle extreme ???? Have read about the 3 month treatments but nothing about the 12 month....