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Anyone dealing with recurring UTIs and bladder cancer? Concerned
Bladder Cancer | Last Active: Mar 2 6:48am | Replies (12)Comment receiving replies
@warren2632, dealing multiple complex, chronic conditions is a constant challenge. It sounds like preventing UTIs will have to be a constant for you too. Here's an article from Mayo Clinic that might be helpful:
- 5 tips to prevent a urinary tract infection https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/5-tips-to-prevent-a-urinary-tract-infection
@wohali @barondog @mrdee63 @gemdoc25 @jmcs have shared some of their experiences here:
- BCG and UTIs: Anyone else get urinary tract infections?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/bcg-and-utis/
Warren, has your care team come to rely on your symptoms to confirm infection and administer antibiotics sooner? What tips have they provided to help prevent UTIs?
Replies to "@warren2632, dealing multiple complex, chronic conditions is a constant challenge. It sounds like preventing UTIs will..."
@colleenyoung I had read that some infections, especially in older men, aren’t discovered in routine lab cultures, and require more time for the culture to grow. That turned out to be true in my case. I went through weeks of severe pain and difficulties while my urologist said I couldn’t have an infection because lab tests were always negative. Was told it could be the result of years-ago prostate radiation, cystitis, inflammation from BCG, anything but infection. I asked for the longer lab test and it turned out to be actinotignum schaalii. Was given 7 days of amoxicillin but asked for more and didn’t get any. Still have mild symptoms but wish I could grt a longer run of the antibiotics. I felt dramatically better with just two days of amoxicillin but I don’t think 7 days was enough.
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@colleenyoung
Hi Colleen,
I am in the same boat with recurrent UTI’s attempting to get through the 6 week induction of BCG treatment. I was researching the situation and believe the GAG layer of urothelial lining gets affected with BCG, making one more prone to UTIs, especially as the causative agent embeds in the urothelial layers making antibiotics difficult to eradicate the causative agent. There is a suggestion of placing a patient on a long term low dose antibiotic may help. But I wonder how that affects the success of BCG. There is also an oral vaccine called MV140 (Uromune) over 3 months that may help prevent recurrent UTI. AGAIN absolutely nothing on internet to say if useful whilst having BCG OR if contraindicated as it relies on an immune response. Does anyone have any suggestions or knowledge. My oncologist just tells me to ask my Urologist…who is away at the moment.