BCG Treatments Questions

alanlee
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9 years 4 months ago #47590 by alanlee

Replied by alanlee on topic BCG Treatments Questions

Thanks for all the replies folks.....I am still scheduled for act #2 tomorrow, and I feel pretty good right now. Just in time to feel crappy again, LOL....anyway the bleeding has stopped and aside from being tired, I am ready for tomorrow.

2/2011: diagnosed with non invasive Type1 stage1...and had turbt in march....first follow up 5/19/11, had laser again as it re-occurred.
10/12/2011 TURPT with more bladder laser....still non invasive..
11/17/14 diag. with CIS non invasive, beginning BCG 11/26/14
2/2015 BCG did not work, had another...

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fighterm

9 years 4 months ago #47589 by fighterm

Replied by fighterm on topic BCG Treatments Questions

Sara Anne, actually I checked the incidence of bladder cancer. Its the 4 th common cancer in the US almost 800000 people are living with BC in the US and about 80000 are in Canada. It's also the most recurring cancer of all cancers and the BCG treatment is the major treatment option. I think that the producer of the BCG wants to create shortage and then price gouging.

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raider
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9 years 4 months ago #47579 by raider

Replied by raider on topic BCG Treatments Questions

A. Lee,

I had lots of clots and some bleeding after all my biopsies and most of my treatments, at first it can be very alarming but I realized I had a big area in the lining that was affected and just needed to slough off that tissue. One tine I think it lasted 2 weeks if I remember correctly.

Best of luck to you and keep a positive attitude, it helps!

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Tique1939
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9 years 4 months ago #47578 by Tique1939

Replied by Tique1939 on topic BCG Treatments Questions

Thank you so much for your reply. I was so hopeful I would hear from him today but I did not. I am really in a quandary. He is associated with a large group in Austin so I can't understand the almost 30 day delay. I am not sure what to do at this point.
I am not prepared at this point for regular chemo/radiation or removal. His other suggested options. Any thoughts anyone?

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sara.anne
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9 years 4 months ago #47575 by sara.anne

Replied by sara.anne on topic BCG Treatments Questions

Yes, there have been problems with supplies of BCG. There used to be two suppliers for the US....one has quit production and Merck now has a "monopoly" which it may not want.

BCG is a biologic...a live organism...so that its production is subject to the whims of the bugs...sometimes they grow and then sometimes they won't. The official word as to why we had problems earlier this year was that there were "production issues." BCG is also a very old drug, used in a relatively small set of patients (those of us with bladder cancer) so the economics are not "favorable" to Big Phara.

The shortage seemed to aleviate in October and most places are able to get what they need. It is possible that the larger institutions have more clout with Merck and have been able to restore their supply lines a bit faster. Your doctor should be able to get it now.

Sara Anne

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
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alanlee
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9 years 4 months ago #47573 by alanlee

Replied by alanlee on topic BCG Treatments Questions

Thanks Sara Anne, I went to see the uro today and he said they wont give me the BCG if I am still bleeding. I have not heard of supply issues by the way.

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BCG Treatments Questions

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