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BLADDER CANCER

1RichardB1
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Hi everyone.

I was diagnosed with Bladder Cancer in December 2003. I’ve had two TURBTs and completed a course of 12 BCG treatments. Currently cancer free and in remission.

Was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer during BCG treatment program and had Radical Prostatectomy. That problem resolved!

All BCG treatments went fine but final treatment has left me with continuous urinary urgency needing to visit loo every 2-3 hours day and night. More frequently if exercising.

Doc says it should improve but it’s been 5 weeks and still no obvious improvement.

Anyone else going through or been through this. Is there hope for improvement?

  • Offline

    Apologies - I was diagnosed in 2023 - not 2003! 

  • Online in reply to 1RichardB1

    Hi there and sorry to hear this, I’m wondering if you have a uti, have you been in touch with your cancer nurse if not I think I would also ask your doctor if you can do a water sample. I’ve had bladder cancer high grade and did 15 BCG before there was a world shortage. ( it does play your bladder up though) I’m happy to say I was discharged last year after 14 years. Hopefully the same for you. I’m only on here now as I have a colonoscopy tomorrow and as you know you try and find everything about it, hence I came across your post. Good luck x

  • Offline in reply to SueCC

    Thanks. Did check for a UTI but urine test showed no infection.

    Have a cystoscopy (camera check) in two weeks. Maybe this will offer some explanation.

  • Online in reply to 1RichardB1

    Have you joined Fight Bladder Cancer, it’s a private group on face book, loads of knowledge there. Hope the cystoscope goes ok .

  • Offline in reply to SueCC

    Hi I'm new to this chat. I have had 2 turbt and am now having laser treatment. I was diagnosed last year.What determines the type of treatment you have as I am getting very tired. I recover within 3 months and return every 3 months for another laser session.

  • Offline in reply to Sundown

    Hi Sundown.

    As I understand it - think of your bladder as like an orange peel. Sort of pith on the inside and peel on the outside. If the cancer tumours are just in the inner pith layer BCG treatment is a possible option after tumours removed by surgery - TURBT. 
    It was explained to me that after tumours removed there may still be cancer cells left behind. Can’t really see these cells so apparently inserting the BCG vaccine into the bladder causes an infection/virus inside the bladder and your body sends white blood cells to the area to attack the infection/virus. As if happens these blood cells also kill off any floating cancer cells in the vicinity at the same time. They don’t know why but apparently this is the case. I was told to think of it as a slab terrace with a weed core beneath. The core (tumour) is removed but the weeds can come back and grow again. The BCG acts like a weed killer, destroying remaining cells and preventing re-growth.

    The only condition is that the tumours must not have pierced through the orange peel and entered your body. If the BCG serum enters into your body then it can cause other problems so is not aan option if this is the case.

    This is how it was explained to me - in simple terms. For me they recommended a 12 treatment course. 6 weekly hits then two lots of 3 spread over a year.

    Hope this explains BCG treatment option. Sorry, but I don’t know about the laser treatment program you’re having and I hope this explanation on the BCG option helps you to understand more.

  • Online in reply to Sundown

    Yes more or less as Richard said, BCG is for high grade bladder cancer and it’s also TB of some kind, think that’s why you have to be careful when emptying your bladder with that stuff in you, lower grade has some form of chemo.into bladder. I’m not sure about the laser treatment but think it goes on what grade and stage you are. Whatever you’re having you can be sure it’s the right one for you. All the best of luck xx
    When I started with bladder cancer Richard you would have 27 BCGs but maybe as their short oh the stuff they give less now, x

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