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← Return to Stage 1 Bladder Cancer/Gemcitabine
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Stage 1 Bladder Cancer/Gemcitabine
Bladder Cancer | Last Active: Mar 9 9:27am | Replies (39)Comment receiving replies
I'm 85 and I'm scheduled for gemcitabine treatments a month post TURB on 2/10/22. The chemo administered in the hospital following my initial surgery in 12/2019 was pretty painful. My doctor says Gemcitabine treatments, six in six weeks, are "....usually well tolerated." However, some comments above allude to incomplete courses of therapy. Why? Any side effects? Allergic reactions? Problems with intercourse after 6 weeks of urethral "invasions"?
Replies to "I'm 85 and I'm scheduled for gemcitabine treatments a month post TURB on 2/10/22. The chemo..."
My husband was unable to tolerate gemcitabine. But he had had so many TURB surgeries that his bladder lining was thin and it was painful for him. The urologist had had many positive experiences with his other patients. gemcitabine was tried because my husband was also no longer able to tolerate bcg which worked well for the first 10 to 12 years. So in Nov. 2021, he had a total radical cystectomy and he has made a total and full recovery and is in great shape rebuilding parts of our deck! He is 80. He feels great now.
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Welcome @blades. I can imagine that you are a little apprehensive about starting treatment with gemcitabine after your earlier experience with chemotherapy. I'm tagging @sue225 @plugger @texascitylady to bring them into the discussion to share their experiences.
Gemcitabine can have side effects that can cause a pause in treatment or incomplete courses. That is usually due to low white blood cell counts (neutropenia) which can increase your susceptibility for infection. Thus sometimes a course of treatment is postponed to wait until the blood cells recover.
When will you be starting treatment?