They have been giving me lidocaine. I took Ixybutynin for bladder spasms and I was able to retain the medications longer, 40 and 50 minutes and the day of the injection was much less unpleasant.
Thank you for your concern.
I hope this forum is still active. I have had a kidney transplant and I am 77 years old. I now have superficial bladder cancer. I have had two TURBT's and am now starting treatments. Because of the transplant, I am being given Gemcitabine and Docetaxel. I have a very large prostate and last year I had prostate artery embolization which incidently discovered the small tumor but did very little to reduce the size of my prostate.
This week I had my first treatment. I was only able to maintain both medications for a limited amount of time which I was told s/b 1 hour a piece. My next treatment I will be taking Oxybutynin 5mg prior to treatment to help with retention. I am getting vague responses regarding what the implications are if I cannot maintain the dosages longer.
Can you tell me if the treatments are adequately effective if I am unable to maintain the dosages longer?
Can you advise if there is an alternative treatment?
Any further suggestions?
Thank you
Joel Ratzker
Hello Joel @cparat100.
When my husband had bladder infusions it was BCG and one of the helpful things was the use of lidocaine gel along with the catheterization. It made catheterization smoother and likely numbed the urethra to perhaps ease the urge to release the meds during that hour. Not every nurse used this but my husband found it all went smoother when lidocaine was used. You might ask at your next instillation if that can be tried.
I hope this forum is still active. I have had a kidney transplant and I am 77 years old. I now have superficial bladder cancer. I have had two TURBT's and am now starting treatments. Because of the transplant, I am being given Gemcitabine and Docetaxel. I have a very large prostate and last year I had prostate artery embolization which incidently discovered the small tumor but did very little to reduce the size of my prostate.
This week I had my first treatment. I was only able to maintain both medications for a limited amount of time which I was told s/b 1 hour a piece. My next treatment I will be taking Oxybutynin 5mg prior to treatment to help with retention. I am getting vague responses regarding what the implications are if I cannot maintain the dosages longer.
Can you tell me if the treatments are adequately effective if I am unable to maintain the dosages longer?
Can you advise if there is an alternative treatment?
Any further suggestions?
Thank you
Joel Ratzker
I am 77 and have fought bladder cancer 11 years with same treatment of Gem/Dox. My doc asked that I do the best I could, and as infusions continued, it got easier to keep drugs in. My cancer was “in situ”, but after a decade, moved to prostate. Now about to do MVAC chemo and have both organs removed. Unknown how my 77-year-old self will tolerate this next journey. Hang in there!
I hope this forum is still active. I have had a kidney transplant and I am 77 years old. I now have superficial bladder cancer. I have had two TURBT's and am now starting treatments. Because of the transplant, I am being given Gemcitabine and Docetaxel. I have a very large prostate and last year I had prostate artery embolization which incidently discovered the small tumor but did very little to reduce the size of my prostate.
This week I had my first treatment. I was only able to maintain both medications for a limited amount of time which I was told s/b 1 hour a piece. My next treatment I will be taking Oxybutynin 5mg prior to treatment to help with retention. I am getting vague responses regarding what the implications are if I cannot maintain the dosages longer.
Can you tell me if the treatments are adequately effective if I am unable to maintain the dosages longer?
Can you advise if there is an alternative treatment?
Any further suggestions?
Thank you
Joel Ratzker
I had my bladder removed and now have a neo bladder. After one year my cancer showed up in two lymph nodes in my abdomen area. I was on chemotherapy for about four months with no change. I have now been on Keytruda for about two years. My lymph nodes have shrunk to the point my oncologist says it is insignificant. My cancer is not curable, but my oncologist feels I could live for several years. I will probably stop immunotherapy this summer. When it starts growing again, my oncologist feels that I can restart immunotherapy and the drugs will effectively treat the cancer.
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For those diagnosed with NMIBC, I recommend you ask urologist about options such as Adstiladrin or Anktiva + BCG.
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2 ReactionsThey have been giving me lidocaine. I took Ixybutynin for bladder spasms and I was able to retain the medications longer, 40 and 50 minutes and the day of the injection was much less unpleasant.
Thank you for your concern.
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2 Reactions@cparat100, how did treatment go on Wednesday?
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1 ReactionYep! Always requested lidocaine! Eased insertion and minimized post procedure discomfort.
Thank you for that advice. I will check Wednesday at my next transfusion.
Hello Joel @cparat100.
When my husband had bladder infusions it was BCG and one of the helpful things was the use of lidocaine gel along with the catheterization. It made catheterization smoother and likely numbed the urethra to perhaps ease the urge to release the meds during that hour. Not every nurse used this but my husband found it all went smoother when lidocaine was used. You might ask at your next instillation if that can be tried.
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2 ReactionsIt sounds like you’re a tough guy. God is with you.
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4 ReactionsI am 77 and have fought bladder cancer 11 years with same treatment of Gem/Dox. My doc asked that I do the best I could, and as infusions continued, it got easier to keep drugs in. My cancer was “in situ”, but after a decade, moved to prostate. Now about to do MVAC chemo and have both organs removed. Unknown how my 77-year-old self will tolerate this next journey. Hang in there!
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Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI hope this forum is still active. I have had a kidney transplant and I am 77 years old. I now have superficial bladder cancer. I have had two TURBT's and am now starting treatments. Because of the transplant, I am being given Gemcitabine and Docetaxel. I have a very large prostate and last year I had prostate artery embolization which incidently discovered the small tumor but did very little to reduce the size of my prostate.
This week I had my first treatment. I was only able to maintain both medications for a limited amount of time which I was told s/b 1 hour a piece. My next treatment I will be taking Oxybutynin 5mg prior to treatment to help with retention. I am getting vague responses regarding what the implications are if I cannot maintain the dosages longer.
Can you tell me if the treatments are adequately effective if I am unable to maintain the dosages longer?
Can you advise if there is an alternative treatment?
Any further suggestions?
Thank you
Joel Ratzker
@moose63, your story is a welcome addition to the community. You may also wish to participate in this related discussion:
- Experiences with neobladder surgery for bladder cancer
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/bladder-cancer-and-neobladder-surgery/
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