1. < Bladder Cancer
Profile picture for rjlpool502

Anyone had gemcitabine and docetaxel for Bladder Cancer?

Posted by rjlpool502 @rjlpool502, Oct 18, 2024

Just had second of six weekly doses Gem/Doc chemo infusion for my bladder cancer. Had six doses BCG but cancer came right back. Mine is aggressive but non invasive at present. Been scraped out twice. Any one else having this type chemo? Would like to compare notes.

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

Profile picture for amu45sin
amu45sin | @amu45sin | May 23 12:43pm
In reply to @honey750 "Hi, I am on my 5th Gemstone/ Docetaxel. The first two were fine. The 3rd, 4th..." + (show)
Profile picture for honey750 @honey750

Hi, I am on my 5th Gemstone/ Docetaxel. The first two were fine. The 3rd, 4th and 5th have been tough. I get a burning that feels awful. I get urine cultures and they find bacteria and treat it as a UTI. This is my 5th one and I feel awful from the burning. Waiting on a call back from the Dr. Just finished Moxifloxacin after 14 days. I take AZO and Tylenol.
I was diagnosed 7/2023 with high risk NMIBC
Had 9 BCG treatments but couldn't tolerate anymore because of UTI's. Had at least 4 TURBTS and many Cystoscopies. If anyone can help me understand why I am so prone to UTI's and the burning, I would really appreciate it. I have a Urologist and a Infections Disease Dr., but I don't get any answers from them.

Jump to this post

RSand here.
Hang in there!
About the doctor not responding, I kniw wha you mean.
I am with Kaiser and they keep my Urologist so busy, I cannot get a consult appointment until two months from now (Aug).

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for honey750
honey750 | @honey750 | May 23 11:10am
In reply to @meandmybadbladder24 "Hello,Today Monday 1.6.2025, I completed my sixth and (hopefully) last chemo treatment using the gemcitabine and..." + (show)
Profile picture for meandmybadbladder24 @meandmybadbladder24

Hello,Today Monday 1.6.2025, I completed my sixth and (hopefully) last chemo treatment using the gemcitabine and docetaxel chemo solutions. Two solutions given at two different intervals. (My TURBT surgery was Nov 1.).

My chemo procedure was as follows:
• the gemcitabine was injected into the bladder first, via a catheter, the solution is held for 90 minutes. The bladder is voided.
• Next, the docetaxel was injected via a catheter.
Held for 90 mins, again, the bladder is voided.It was a difficult process as I struggled holding the first chemo solution. I voided after approximately 15 minutes on two separate occasions. On both those occasions, I was still given the second chemo treatment- Docetaxel.

The remaining four treatments were administered and with great difficulty I managed to hold the gemze (Gemcitabine) and the Docetaxel was administered afterward.

I wonder if anyone would be willing to share their experience with the Gemcitabine and Docetaxel chemo bladder solution treatment.
I found it very difficult to hold the gemcitabine solution for 90 minutes. Each gemze treatment burned my bladder and I repeatedly experienced painful spasms that lasted two to four minutes.

Hearing how someone else tolerated (or not) this chemo will help me understand if there may have been something I could have done differently prior to treatments. Maybe take an anti spasmodic medication? Or ?Thank you for your input,

Jump to this post

Hi, I am on my 5th Gemstone/ Docetaxel. The first two were fine. The 3rd, 4th and 5th have been tough. I get a burning that feels awful. I get urine cultures and they find bacteria and treat it as a UTI. This is my 5th one and I feel awful from the burning. Waiting on a call back from the Dr. Just finished Moxifloxacin after 14 days. I take AZO and Tylenol.
I was diagnosed 7/2023 with high risk NMIBC
Had 9 BCG treatments but couldn't tolerate anymore because of UTI's. Had at least 4 TURBTS and many Cystoscopies. If anyone can help me understand why I am so prone to UTI's and the burning, I would really appreciate it. I have a Urologist and a Infections Disease Dr., but I don't get any answers from them.

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for scott232
scott232 | @scott232 | May 17 4:24pm

Great. No cancer detected in scope or urine sample. I start 12 months gem/doc 1X per month as camcer I have or had is high grade. Probably chance it returns sometime but I will take these results for now

REPLY
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 17 2:44pm
In reply to @scott232 "I just finished 6 weeks Gem/doc Had little issues although very chilled after treatment. This went..." + (show)
Profile picture for scott232 @scott232

I just finished 6 weeks Gem/doc
Had little issues although very chilled after treatment. This went away in day or less. Last few sessions were harder to hold chemo in. Two weeks out of therapy and no real issues except minor burning when urinating
Dr appt this week to see if cancer is gone

Jump to this post

@scott232, how did your appointment go?

REPLY
Profile picture for scott232
scott232 | @scott232 | May 5 7:42am

I just finished 6 weeks Gem/doc
Had little issues although very chilled after treatment. This went away in day or less. Last few sessions were harder to hold chemo in. Two weeks out of therapy and no real issues except minor burning when urinating
Dr appt this week to see if cancer is gone

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for jimg56
jimg56 | @jimg56 | May 3 9:09pm

My husband had 6 weeks of gem 2x a week. then cystoscopy
Found something had 3rd TUBR and took out 1 cm tumor. So the gemcitabine did not work. It is HG aggressive non invasive. Will discuss next plan on may 12th.

REPLY
Profile picture for jimg56
jimg56 | @jimg56 | May 3 8:57pm

Yes. My husband had the gemcitibine. ( only)
Twice a week for 6 weeks. Just had follow up turb and there was @1 cm tumor. This is his 3rd turb. So I guess the treatment did not work. It is HG non invasive. Will see what new plan of action is on the 12th of this month.
CATHERINE…

REPLY
Profile picture for honey750
honey750 | @honey750 | May 1 3:27pm

Same here, had my 2nd of 6 Gemcitabine and Docetaxel right into the bladder. So far no side effects. I had 9 BCG treatments since I was diagnosed a year and a half ago. But, I can't tolerate it. So, had 4 TURBTS and many cystoscopies. Hoping this works and I can tolerate it. I have High Risk NMIBC
CIS. I only had UTIs for about a year before I went to see a Urologist and was diagnosed.
Good luck to you and God Bless you .

REPLY
Profile picture for nana2three2025
nana2three2025 | @nana2three2025 | Mar 15 12:03pm
In reply to @colleenyoung "@nana2three2025, have you started gemcitabine and docetaxel (gemdox) yet? How are you doing?" + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

@nana2three2025, have you started gemcitabine and docetaxel (gemdox) yet? How are you doing?

Jump to this post

I have had 2 intravesical treatments of gem/ doc so far. I have had no issues whatsoever.. thanks for reaching out.

REPLY
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 15 10:33am
In reply to @nana2three2025 "Hi. Yes. I have high grade ta0. Not cou ting initial scrape..bcg failure..I have had 3..." + (show)
Profile picture for nana2three2025 @nana2three2025

Hi. Yes. I have high grade ta0. Not cou ting initial scrape..bcg failure..I have had 3 Turbt surgeries. After each bcg. Then I went 6 months with no tx due to clinics error. Now I am starting gem doc…not sure what I will do if no response…my doc wanted to remove my bladder after bcg failure….

Jump to this post

@nana2three2025, have you started gemcitabine and docetaxel (gemdox) yet? How are you doing?

REPLY
1 reply
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.