Protocol for maintenance therapy with BCG

Hi @fmfran as far as I understand the TURBT is part of the resection.

Thank you for responding. I have not heard of a bladder resection. I've had multiple TURBT since the removal of my tumor in 2020. I did the full gemzar treatment. That eventually failed. I completed my first 6 BCG treatments with success. This week I start my maintenance treatments. I'm praying for continuing success. I'm so happy for you. I'll keep you in my prayers.

I also took the lower doses 1/3. She always shared a dose between 3 people. Maybe that's why I had to do 3 years worth. But even with the lower doses, I still had the side effects of burning, frequency, a little blood, and occasional pain. Think it's just par for the course! The burning 🔥 always made my mind believe it was working and killing the cancer.

I’ve seen studies that are showing indifference in BCG treatment with 1/3 and 1/3 doses. With the BCG shortages having the lower dose is a good alternative. I am having significant progression of side effects in my maintenance program and am looking for lower dosing to alleviate these.

Thank You and you too, @lannak, God bless you also 😊

Soooooo Amazing! God bless you going forward 🙏

Good morning @fmfran, I've been cancer free since my first 2 original surgeries (11/21 and 12/21) removing the cancer and resectioning my bladder. No More Cancer as of yet. My next cysto is in October 2025 🙏

What was your ultimate outcome?

I was was receiving 1mg and 1/2mg BCG for the first 6 treatments. Now my clinic in Chicago has decided that 1/3mg is sufficient. I am not aware of any phase 3 studies that show this. Mayo Clinic is one of a few urology departments that is administering the the full 1mg dose. Hospital greed? Definitely pharmaceutical (Merk, manufacturer) greed! Since BCG is expensive to manufacture.

A little update...My biopsy several weeks after treatment 6 was clear. In discussion with doc about the efficacy of lower dose BCG in the future "maintaince" treatments, he told me for the first time that "maybe" I had been receiving 1/2 doses to spread out the scarce BCG. Now I feel totally uncertain what dose to request moving forward. I find this totally unethical. So much for building trust!!!