Anyone have treatment of BCG with Keytruda?

Posted by rjlpool502 @rjlpool502, Sep 18 2:53pm

Had cancer scraped out bladder and 6 BCG treatments and cystoscopy showed cancer back in only 4 mos. Had another scraping out with Blue Light and Dr wants to do BCG 6 times again but suggested joining a Trial Group using Keytruda along with the BCG. Anyone have any experience with this? My cancer is so far non invasive but high grade(?) and maybe BCG resistant which is why Dr wants to use BCG again.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bladder Cancer Support Group.

@colleenyoung

@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?

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Thank you very much!!
I appreciate your reply to my question🙏🙏

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I think Keytruda is great. I'm in remission they say.

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In reply to @hardtailsmsncom1 "What's bcg stand for?" + (show)
@hardtailsmsncom1

What's bcg stand for?

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BCG is short for bacillus calmette guerin. It is usually the first step treatment for non invasive bladder cancer and has been around for many years. It is often in short supply and many patients do not respond to it which is why other treatments are being looked into.

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My original tumor was removed and I was treated with BCG.
But I have had continued tumors.

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@judilafleur

My original tumor was removed and I was treated with BCG.
But I have had continued tumors.

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Did you get BCG maintenance treatments or only induction (1st 6 weeks)?

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@swh

Did you get BCG maintenance treatments or only induction (1st 6 weeks)?

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I had changed Doctors and the new one finished with the rest of the treatments. But really nothing since except removing them. No one ever said about further options.

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@swh

Did you get BCG maintenance treatments or only induction (1st 6 weeks)?

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Only induction (6 treatments) and am now having chemo induction gem/doce. BCG drug in short supply and as it did work for me they would not authorize again.

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