Stage 1 Bladder Cancer/Gemcitabine

Hope all goes well next week. All the best to you.

Thanks Colleen,
Actually, I've completed 5 of the 6 scheduled treatments and had side effects after 4 and 5, the 5th noticeably worse than the 4th. Unless I hear something alarming from my doctor, I'll take the last one and hope what side effects there are will end promptly.

I was just diagnosed with stage 1 bladder cancer a month ago when I had a tumor removed; it was malignant. I haven't even come to terms with that CANCER word yet. Debbietam25

I am being treated currently with this drug by infusion at Iowa University Hospital by Dr O'Donnell who developed this treatment. But he uses a combination of two drugs Gem/Doce he calls it. No bad reaction yet.

I found about my stage 2, 9 months ago. I guess nothing happens fast until it happens I can only guess. People don't talk about it to much. Other than some discomfort and some rough days, possibly just as much from my back and arthritis problems. I am still trying to get use to the cancer word. We should probably be glad that it isn't more aggressive. I talk to my God and I am thankful for what has gone right in my life. Best of luck to you.

I am currently being treated with this druid at University of Iowa hospital. No bad side effects. To early to tell if it works. I had it weekly for 6 weeks and now monthly for last 3 months. Monthly is the plan for two years. God Bless and good health.

My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with you, may your battle with cancer be a successful one! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🤗🤗

I too was diagnosed with bladder cancer in Sept. 2023. I was given blood thinners for a suspected heart problem (which came out all clear) which started the tumor to bleed. It took me a month to find a urologist as nobody would see me as I was without a primary physician ( mine had retired). I bled lightly for 2 weeks then heavy for 2 weeks, with no other symptoms beside a low back/hip ache which I attributed to my exercise. I have no risk factors, don't smoke, no family history and a women. The diagnosis was very difficult for me to digest and come to terms with, actually it still seems surreal but then my urogynecologist found it on a Monday during cystoscope and immediately sent me to urologist surgeon and 4 days later I had my first surgery to remove the cancer. I have high grade, highly aggressive and invasive cancer and in the situ, however its stage T1 and has not penatrated the muscle wall. My life changed in an instant and has been a living hell for four months now. I have had three cystoscopes, 2 surgeries and only 5 out of the 6 BCG treatments because of extreme side effects. After first 2 treatments I got kidney stones and had a severe bladder infection and was 2 weeks off. Went for 3rd treatment and an hour later was having severe bladder, groin and leg spasms so severe I could hardly walk. Went into ER where they did an ultrasound check for blood clots, an xray and a cane, and came out with no diagnois or explanation for my pain. Fourth treatment the spasms and pain increased dramatically and again went to ER (3rd time) in search of answers and relief. At this point I could barely walk and graduated to a walker. Again no answers or relief. Five days after 4th treatment, pain spasms had intensified to 10+ on pain the pain scale, leaving me unable to walk with a walker without assistance from my husband. Went into hospital for the fourth time to no avail. I took the fifth treatment with much fear, tears and determination. Determination to get thru round 1 (6 treat), not ready to give up and let cancer win. As expected all adverse reactions spiked exponentially, screaming and crying in agony and unable to walk only a few step, reliant on my husband to get me to the bathroom, to a chair, to the bed etc. The treatments have left me in excuriating pain and debilitated. Was schedule for 6th treatment but treatment was ceased because of the extreme adverse reaction. Seven days past last treatment and nothing has changed except medicines that don't seem to be working. On heavy anti inflammatory med and prednisone and added nausea, bladder and back pain and light bleeding upon urination. Searching out a second opinion! Does anyone have a urologic oncologist specific to bladder cancer or do you have separate urologist and separate oncologist? How many opinions did you get and has anyone experienced the same symptoms? Forgot to mention I have had a fever the entire time ranging from 99.3- 100.7, my norm 97.5. Sorry for length of post, so desperate to find answers and relief and thought others may have or are experiencing the same thing. Blessings and good health to all, you have my prayers! 🙏🙏🙏🙏

My Husband is 81 and in good health othere than now being diagnosed with non invasive bladder cancer having 2 TURB surgeries. He is scheduled to have his bladder removed in a couple of weeks, plus his prostate and lumph nodes. Any tips for him?

I have had 30 installations of BCG, 12 Mitomycin and somewhere around 18 Gemcitabine, I live in Queensland, Australia. I am currently in remission.
Gemcitabine worked extremely well but I had a lot of trouble coping with the pain but my bladder wasn’t in the best of condition. I couldn’t agree with the diagnosis to remove the bladder. I am now in my 8th year and I am confident they will get on top of your husbands problem but it won’t be without pain.
I am also fighting stage 4 prostate cancer and an aggressive form of leukaemia, all diagnosed at the same time.

@cstrate, you've been through a lot. It sounds like you might benefit from the multidisciplinary team approach at Mayo Clinic. Bladder cancer care at Mayo may include urologists, oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists other specialists work to provide comprehensive care.

If you'd like to speak with a scheduler to learn more, you can start here: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63

How are you doing?