Hi,
Where did you go for treatment? I wondered if your doctor consulted with any experts about the diagnosis?
I have noticed a few studies come out this past year or two on the subject of micropapillary tumors, from MDAnderson in Houston. They concluded that bladder removal was the best approach --- and here you are, clear after BCG.
Dr. Kamat from MDAnderson, who's also an advisor to WebCafe, was one of the authors. That institution has probably done the most research on rare tumor types. Not long ago Dr. Kamat suggested that we add info about rare tumor studies to WebCafe, so I researched the subject. Here's the conclusion of the info we have about micropapillary:
blcwebcafe.org/raretypes.asp#mpuc
"...a recent study from experts at MDAnderson reported that BCG does not work on Ta and T1 micropapillary lesions, and early cystectomy, before progression can occur, is the treatment of choice. 18"
It's actually very scary information, I'm sorry to say.
I know of two other people with rare tumor types that have done amazingly well. A man with bladder sarcoma responded to BCG and has been clear for many years, while the experts say cystectomy is the best approach; a women who had small cell blc had a cystectomy and no chemo, though chemo is strongly recommended and she is fine 6 yrs down the road...so you really never can tell!
I'm sorry to be the messenger of such scary news about micropapillary cancer, but if you search out the info on this cancer ...that is the info that comes up.
Wishing you well,
Wendy