Anyone have treatment of BCG with Keytruda?

I've also read that if the tumor recurs anytime after BCG treatments, they start the BCG induction of 6 over again. Prayers for healing 🙏

I believe @mamabear2's husband may have been in the same or similar clinical trial for bladder cancer treatment: Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) + Keytruda (pembrolizumab). Fellow members @journeynw @paula21 @moose63 and others may have experience with Keytruda as well.

@rjlpool502, did you start the trial? How are you doing?

I had my bladder scraped twice and was treated with BCG. The cancer reoccurred one and one-half years after my original diagnosis. The biopsy showed it wasn’t invasive, however I chose to have my bladder removed. During surgery it was determined that it was invasive, however, doctors felt confident they removed all cancer. Later cancer showed up in lymph nodes in my abdomen. Said no cure, but doctors felt good chance chemotherapy for four months and then immunotherapy had a good chance of helping. Spent two years on Keytruda after chemotherapy. PET scan this past June showed no signs of cancer. Stopped treatment based on this news. Just had a scan this September and all clear. I don’t know what this means for you, but I believe Keytruda with God’s blessing was the answer for me.

Ended up I was to late for the trial. Will have to try chemo as next best option as BCG currently in short supply and I am not eligible for that as it did not work first time for me. Hope to hear good things about the trial down the road and good luck to all of you.

Looks like I am going similar route as you. Not having bladder removed yet but will be starting chemo in next few weeks for 6 week course then they will go back into bladder to look. Maybe Keytruda then, not sure Dr. did not mention but hope it continues to work for you and maybe me too.

I was diagnosed with low-grade non-invasive bladder cancer
I’m just curious is being enrolled in the trial a good thing.
Is the trial the only option for cure? What state are you in?
Best of luck to you

My understanding was they usually want to do BCG treatment more than once to verify it is not working before trying something else. There is a shortage of BCG right now so first priority would go to first timers but if in the trial I would get the BCG for sure and maybe the Keytruda also (trials some get it some do not). Trial closed out week before I could start. So BCG not available for me next options chemo or bladder removal and not ready for that yet even though my cancer is high grade non invasive. High grade comes back quick, have had the cancer scraped out twice now. Came back after first scraping in less than four months. Not sure about Keytruda after chemo but did see some others did get Keytruda after bladder removal and chemo. Keytruda seems to be helping with alot of different cancers. Maybe for us to. Hope the chemo goes well for both of us. Dr said side effects are low and it is well tolerated by most. Take care and keep in touch if you like.

Hope and pray for wisdom for your doctor and strength and healing for you.

Good morning
Thank you so much for replying
I will definitely Keep you updated on my situation. BTW, I’m still learning how to use this Blog
So far, I learned a lot

@mikhails1234, you ask an interesting question "Is being enrolled in a clinical trial a good thing?" My answer is - it depends on your preferences. There can be advantages and disadvantages to clinical trials. Here are a few things to consider off the top of my head:

- A trial may involve more appointments, follow-ups, questionnaires. Some people appreciate the extra touch points, for others that may be a burden depending on travel or mobility.
- Later phases of a treatment trials are blinded, randomized control studies which means you will be randomly selected to receive the standard proven treatment of care or the treatment protocol being studied. You won't know which you'll be receiving. But you will get treatment not a placebo in cancer trials.
- Sometimes a trial offers a treatment option when no other options are available.

Here's more information from Mayo Clinic
- Clinical trials: A significant part of cancer care https://cancerblog.mayoclinic.org/2024/05/07/clinical-trials-a-significant-part-of-cancer-care/

@mikhails1234, what treatment are you considering? Were trials discussed with you?