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What side effects did you have BCG bladder cancer treatment?

Posted by jlopez7868 @jlopez7868, Feb 5 2:08pm

Has anyone received BCG bladder treatment, what were your side effects

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msoles | @msoles | Jul 21 10:02pm
In reply to @deidre77 "@msoles Thank you for your response. What treatment is your husband currently on? Am I correct..." + (show)
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@msoles
Thank you for your response. What treatment is your husband currently on?
Am I correct to assume it is BCG with Anktiva? I have not hear of this.

Here's hoping your husband has success and you both have something to celebrate.

Sending good wishes.

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Thank you.
Yes, his treatments are BCG with Anktiva. It was FDA approved two years
ago.

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141emp | @141emp | Jul 22 6:26am
In reply to @deidre77 "I am interested to know if there are any members who are experiencing uncontrolled incontinence following..." + (show)
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I am interested to know if there are any members who are experiencing uncontrolled incontinence following BCG treatments and if so, how is this extremely distressing issue being dealt with. I concluded the first set of six instillations on March 19th and somehow my incontinence is worsening with time.

I will be meeting a new surgeon next week to have two flat tumors removed. Unfortunately, I am a BCG failure which is no surprise since this is so common. I am entering my second year of bladder cancer, intend on seeing a new doctor and will seek an alternate treatment other than BCG.

I give all those who are on this "merry-go-round" a tremendous amount of credit for their inner strength, resilience and determination to beat this tenacious form of cancer. I have been on this emotional treadmill for only one year and feel defeated and depressed.

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@deidre77 It’s great that you are going for a second opinion! That takes strength! I look back on my 2 1/2 years and can’t believe I was actually hesitant to do so. Although the journey has been bumpy at times, the outcome was absolutely one of the best things that has happened to me.I wish you the best and hope the second opinion provides good options for you!

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Deidre77 | @deidre77 | Jul 22 11:04am
In reply to @141emp "@deidre77 It’s great that you are going for a second opinion! That takes strength! I look..." + (show)
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@deidre77 It’s great that you are going for a second opinion! That takes strength! I look back on my 2 1/2 years and can’t believe I was actually hesitant to do so. Although the journey has been bumpy at times, the outcome was absolutely one of the best things that has happened to me.I wish you the best and hope the second opinion provides good options for you!

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@141emp
Yes, indeed it does require strength as one can become so weary being on this challenging journey.

Thank you for your good wishes. I also extend mine to you.

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | 3 days ago
In reply to @dks2500 "@colleenyoung no previous problems. The oncologist suggests I speak with my cardiologist. Cardio tells me they..." + (show)
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@colleenyoung no previous problems. The oncologist suggests I speak with my cardiologist. Cardio tells me they are not concerned with the readings. I’m trying to determine if the low BP is related to my BCG treatments. Oncologist has not confirmed that it is.

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@dks2500, you might ask about a referral to the specialty called cardio-oncology.

Major cancer centers, like Mayo Clinic, offer expertise in addressing heart problems (called cardio-oncology), potential or current issues. At Mayo, the Cardio-Oncology Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/cardio-oncology-clinic/overview/ovc-20442193) evaluates people prior to cancer treatment and patients who have experienced side effects due their treatment.

Might they have such a specialty at your cancer center?

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | 3 days ago
In reply to @msoles "It is a very emotional journey. Please don't get discouraged. It IS overwhelming, for sure. After..." + (show)
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It is a very emotional journey. Please don't get discouraged. It IS overwhelming, for sure.
After my husband's bcg treatments for
NIBC failed, a radical cystectomy was suggested. We went for a second opinion at a universiy hospital with a medical school. The new surgical onocologist advised against removal at this point. He explained there have been many advancements in the treatment of bladder cancer with favorable outcomes in the past several years, and suggested a round of BCG with Anktiva. My husband has one more treatment and we are trying to stay positive that this treatment works.
You are not on this roller coaster alone.

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@msoles, how did your husband do on BCG + Anktiva? Has he completed all treatments now?

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dks2500 | @dks2500 | 3 days ago
In reply to @colleenyoung "@dks2500, you might ask about a referral to the specialty called cardio-oncology. Major cancer centers, like..." + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

@dks2500, you might ask about a referral to the specialty called cardio-oncology.

Major cancer centers, like Mayo Clinic, offer expertise in addressing heart problems (called cardio-oncology), potential or current issues. At Mayo, the Cardio-Oncology Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/cardio-oncology-clinic/overview/ovc-20442193) evaluates people prior to cancer treatment and patients who have experienced side effects due their treatment.

Might they have such a specialty at your cancer center?

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@colleenyoung thanks for your suggestion. Yes, they have cardio-oncologists at my clinic. I will keep that in mind if my situation goes south.

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msoles | @msoles | 2 days ago
In reply to @colleenyoung "@msoles, how did your husband do on BCG + Anktiva? Has he completed all treatments now?" + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

@msoles, how did your husband do on BCG + Anktiva? Has he completed all treatments now?

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@colleenyoung

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msoles | @msoles | 2 days ago

Yes, he completed the six treatments last week. He tolerated each treatment fairly well. He was very fatigued and weak for about 24 hours afterwards. He also had burning for several days when he urinated, which was and is frequently, and was prescribed pyridium which helped immensely. He developed a urinary tract infection, that we were told is very common, halfway through his treatments and had to be treated before resuming.
Best wishes on your continued journey.

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joesmom03 | @joesmom03 | 2 days ago
In reply to @colleenyoung "@msoles, how did your husband do on BCG + Anktiva? Has he completed all treatments now?" + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

@msoles, how did your husband do on BCG + Anktiva? Has he completed all treatments now?

Jump to this post

@colleenyoung

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