Connect
Is a chemo wash necessary before getting a biopsy
My dad recently just had a procedure with a camera to look in his bladder and they found a tumor. He is having pain in his tailbone was why he went in the first place. The dr. Immediately offered him to do a chemo wash before even getting the biopsy. Is this normal? The dr also said that tumors in the bladder are almost always cancerous. I guess I’m asking if he should get the chemo wash before his biopsy?
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bladder Cancer Support Group.
Connect
Hey @jessie1488, so sorry to hear about your Dad's bladder cancer. The good news is of all the cancers, bc is a very treatable one.
If the doctor suggested bcg or chemo wash that's definitely what he should do.
I was diagnosed 11/21 and went thru 3 years of BCG treatments. So far my cystos have been clean and clear.
Good luck and God bless your Dad through all of this.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsIs this surgeon connected with an Oncology center? Is he/she a general urologist or an oncology urologist? My journey is from a major metropolitan area such as Chicago. A uro gynecologist found my tumor and sent me to a community (suburban) urologist who removed the tumor and sent it to pathology. I did not receive a chemo wash prior to the tumor removal. I am now under the care of a uro oncologist at a major teaching hospital in Chicago and receiving BCG.
Usually a cystoscopy is performed followed by a TURBT followed by a localized chemotherapy wash or BCG. This may become a series of such treatments. It all depends on staging and type of BC based on pathology. In advanced or high risk cases systemic (IV/port) chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy is indicated. Typically, CTs and MRIs are also indicated.
CTDNA and new trial immunotherapy neoadjuvant therapies are also available.
Well they haven’t done the biopsy yet so we aren’t even sure it is cancer but the offered him a chemo wash before even doing the biopsy . I never heard of a dr wanting to do a chemo wash before even finding out if it is actually cancer
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHe is going to a urologist in a week for the biopsy. How long after did they have you start BCG? Did u have to wait for the pathology to come back first? Did they have u do a chemo wash hours after?
How long after the TURBT procedure do they have you to a chemo wash or BCG?
Pathology takes approximately 6-10 days. And yes you'll have to wait for the results of Pathology before the doctor will decide what treatment to start. I started on BCG approximately 6-7 weeks after the surgery which typical from my understanding.
From my understanding the dr said the chemo wash would be done right after within hours bc if it is cancerous they would be disrupting the cancer and it could spread. My dad is conflicted and doesn’t want to do a chemo wash if it’s not necessary
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI believe your best bet would be to consult with another urologist. Also you/he should explore your concerns with your doctor over doing the chemo wash. Perhaps this will help you have a better understanding of what to expect.
Cystoscopy showed my first tumor was large and bleeding. No biopsy was done at that time, but TURBT was scheduled. After TURBT, I had a chemo wash in recovery. I had another surgery with a few more tumors removed in one more surgery and a chemo wash after, before I started BCG. I didn't notice any side effects from the wash. My tumors were not muscle invasive. I had 6 BCG treatments, then 3, then 3 with a cystoscopy every 3 months before each round of BCG. It's been almost a year now since my last cystoscopy showed I am clear. I have another cystoscopy in November and am praying I will have no evidence of disease. This is my experience. I'm sure the plan can be different person to person, but I feel like my experience is common. I did have a couple single tumors removed in the office without a chemo wash after. What is your dad worried about regarding the chemo wash?