Just in time for Thanksgiving!! Received my 15 year "all clear" after a cystoscopy last week. I can't help but get a bit nervous as my one-year checkup rolls around. Was diagnosed with papillary and CIS in 2008....had two years of BCG...and have been clear ever since.
Had an interesting talk with my uro. Up until now they have been doing OK with the BCG shortage, but just had their "allotment" cancelled. He said that his practice (5 uros) has about 100 patients in various stages of BCG treatment. NOT HAPPY.
He has been talking to a colleague involved in the GEM/DOC clinical trials who told him that the results are looking very encouraging. Hope this keeps up.
And about urine cytology.....he does send urine samples for cytology tests (mine was negative!) but doesn't put a lot of faith in them. He has stopped using the FISH test except in rare circumstances due to the inordinately large number of false results.
Very interesting visit!!
Sara Anne
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
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