Working on keeping a sense of humor as I journey through this entire bladder cancer land and its treatments.
Interesting, I was not told to use bleach in the toilet after voiding my bladder but will be sure to ask about that asap.
I am receiving Intravesical Therapy.
For the following six weeks, once a week, I will receive two solution chemo’s at two separate intervals.
First gemcitabine, fed into the bladder in liquid form, is held in bladder for 90 minutes, I then empty my bladder; the second chemo solution is doxatacel, fed into my bladder in liquid form, is held in bladder for 90 minutes and once again I empty my bladder.
This type of therapy stimulates the bladder to shed its lining with the goal that no further tumor growths return.
One month after the six chemo treatments have been completed I will visit my surgeon/urologist for a follow up cytoscope appointment to confirm no further tumor growths have appeared on my bladder walls.
My Treatment: A few days ago, during the first chemo treatment I received 70 mg of Gemcitabine and told to hold it for 90 minutes. Well, that did not happen. My bladder simply said “No way… too much liquid, TOO MUCH!” After less than 10 minutes the solution ‘came out’. Nurse said this does happen and we may have to use a foley catheter w a plug if you are not able to hold the second solution.
Hm. I thought that catheter route doesn’t sound good to me. I am investigating if there may be another option to help me hold my gemticabine chemo solution without having to use a catheter.
Fortunately, I was able to hold the second chemo solution docetaxel for 90 minutes. I will refer to this second solution ‘holding’ as Success! Side effects were minimal, a bit tired and felt achy the following day.
Looking forward to my second chemo treatment this upcoming Monday.
One down, five to go!
Wishing all a very pleasant weekend⛄️
I understand...I wonder if there is any light at the end of the tunnel . I get very discouraged. I'm looking at 6 BBG treatments and 3 maintenance. Ugg.
I’ve completed 1 year of gem/doc treatments & now into 2nd year of monthly maintenance treatments with a cysto every 4 months. The treatments seem to be working & so far the side effects are tolerable. At the beginning of the treatments the side effects were hard to deal with but then you learn what is helpful to ease the pain. I hope that your side effects from BCG will be minimal & that you can look forward to feeling better soon!
Working on keeping a sense of humor as I journey through this entire bladder cancer land and its treatments.
Interesting, I was not told to use bleach in the toilet after voiding my bladder but will be sure to ask about that asap.
I am receiving Intravesical Therapy.
For the following six weeks, once a week, I will receive two solution chemo’s at two separate intervals.
First gemcitabine, fed into the bladder in liquid form, is held in bladder for 90 minutes, I then empty my bladder; the second chemo solution is doxatacel, fed into my bladder in liquid form, is held in bladder for 90 minutes and once again I empty my bladder.
This type of therapy stimulates the bladder to shed its lining with the goal that no further tumor growths return.
One month after the six chemo treatments have been completed I will visit my surgeon/urologist for a follow up cytoscope appointment to confirm no further tumor growths have appeared on my bladder walls.
My Treatment: A few days ago, during the first chemo treatment I received 70 mg of Gemcitabine and told to hold it for 90 minutes. Well, that did not happen. My bladder simply said “No way… too much liquid, TOO MUCH!” After less than 10 minutes the solution ‘came out’. Nurse said this does happen and we may have to use a foley catheter w a plug if you are not able to hold the second solution.
Hm. I thought that catheter route doesn’t sound good to me. I am investigating if there may be another option to help me hold my gemticabine chemo solution without having to use a catheter.
Fortunately, I was able to hold the second chemo solution docetaxel for 90 minutes. I will refer to this second solution ‘holding’ as Success! Side effects were minimal, a bit tired and felt achy the following day.
Looking forward to my second chemo treatment this upcoming Monday.
One down, five to go!
Wishing all a very pleasant weekend⛄️
TURBT according to Cleveland Clinic (like Mayo Clinic) has great medical explanations. Here's the link-https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/turbt ; and here's an excerpt:
"What is transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT)?
Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is a procedure that healthcare providers use to diagnose and treat bladder cancer at the same time.
During TURBT, a provider uses a long, thin tool with a camera on it (cystoscope) to find the tumor in your bladder and cut it out (resect it). Your provider sends the tumor to a lab where a pathologist will examine it. This helps determine its stage (how far it’s grown into your bladder wall) and grade (how different the cells look from normal cells).
Your provider doesn’t need to make any incisions for TURBT — the scope goes through your urethra (the tube that your pee travels through to get out of your body) to reach your bladder.
Why is TURBT done?
Providers perform TURBT when you have a tumor in your bladder that they need to biopsy and/or remove. It allows your provider to use just a single procedure to both remove and biopsy (take tissue samples from) the tumor."
Thank you for explaining. This is my 3rd tumor removal.
One was low grade and nothing was done.
One was hi grade very close to Bladder wall treated with Bcg
Latest one 2 tiny tumors High Grade Non invasive he has Bcg , 6 treatments then 3 maintenance doses planned.
TURBT according to Cleveland Clinic (like Mayo Clinic) has great medical explanations. Here's the link-https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/turbt ; and here's an excerpt:
"What is transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT)?
Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is a procedure that healthcare providers use to diagnose and treat bladder cancer at the same time.
During TURBT, a provider uses a long, thin tool with a camera on it (cystoscope) to find the tumor in your bladder and cut it out (resect it). Your provider sends the tumor to a lab where a pathologist will examine it. This helps determine its stage (how far it’s grown into your bladder wall) and grade (how different the cells look from normal cells).
Your provider doesn’t need to make any incisions for TURBT — the scope goes through your urethra (the tube that your pee travels through to get out of your body) to reach your bladder.
Why is TURBT done?
Providers perform TURBT when you have a tumor in your bladder that they need to biopsy and/or remove. It allows your provider to use just a single procedure to both remove and biopsy (take tissue samples from) the tumor."
TURBT according to Cleveland Clinic (like Mayo Clinic) has great medical explanations. Here's the link-https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/turbt ; and here's an excerpt:
"What is transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT)?
Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is a procedure that healthcare providers use to diagnose and treat bladder cancer at the same time.
During TURBT, a provider uses a long, thin tool with a camera on it (cystoscope) to find the tumor in your bladder and cut it out (resect it). Your provider sends the tumor to a lab where a pathologist will examine it. This helps determine its stage (how far it’s grown into your bladder wall) and grade (how different the cells look from normal cells).
Your provider doesn’t need to make any incisions for TURBT — the scope goes through your urethra (the tube that your pee travels through to get out of your body) to reach your bladder.
Why is TURBT done?
Providers perform TURBT when you have a tumor in your bladder that they need to biopsy and/or remove. It allows your provider to use just a single procedure to both remove and biopsy (take tissue samples from) the tumor."
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1 ReactionI’ve completed 1 year of gem/doc treatments & now into 2nd year of monthly maintenance treatments with a cysto every 4 months. The treatments seem to be working & so far the side effects are tolerable. At the beginning of the treatments the side effects were hard to deal with but then you learn what is helpful to ease the pain. I hope that your side effects from BCG will be minimal & that you can look forward to feeling better soon!
Working on keeping a sense of humor as I journey through this entire bladder cancer land and its treatments.
Interesting, I was not told to use bleach in the toilet after voiding my bladder but will be sure to ask about that asap.
I am receiving Intravesical Therapy.
For the following six weeks, once a week, I will receive two solution chemo’s at two separate intervals.
First gemcitabine, fed into the bladder in liquid form, is held in bladder for 90 minutes, I then empty my bladder; the second chemo solution is doxatacel, fed into my bladder in liquid form, is held in bladder for 90 minutes and once again I empty my bladder.
This type of therapy stimulates the bladder to shed its lining with the goal that no further tumor growths return.
One month after the six chemo treatments have been completed I will visit my surgeon/urologist for a follow up cytoscope appointment to confirm no further tumor growths have appeared on my bladder walls.
My Treatment: A few days ago, during the first chemo treatment I received 70 mg of Gemcitabine and told to hold it for 90 minutes. Well, that did not happen. My bladder simply said “No way… too much liquid, TOO MUCH!” After less than 10 minutes the solution ‘came out’. Nurse said this does happen and we may have to use a foley catheter w a plug if you are not able to hold the second solution.
Hm. I thought that catheter route doesn’t sound good to me. I am investigating if there may be another option to help me hold my gemticabine chemo solution without having to use a catheter.
Fortunately, I was able to hold the second chemo solution docetaxel for 90 minutes. I will refer to this second solution ‘holding’ as Success! Side effects were minimal, a bit tired and felt achy the following day.
Looking forward to my second chemo treatment this upcoming Monday.
One down, five to go!
Wishing all a very pleasant weekend⛄️
I go in every 3 months to have a Cysto (don't know if it's called blue light).
That's how the tumors have been detected.
This will be my third go around with Bladder Cancer.
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2 ReactionsWelcome, @andreastrauss1955. Have you been diagnosed with bladder cancer? Will you have surgery?
Thank you for explaining. This is my 3rd tumor removal.
One was low grade and nothing was done.
One was hi grade very close to Bladder wall treated with Bcg
Latest one 2 tiny tumors High Grade Non invasive he has Bcg , 6 treatments then 3 maintenance doses planned.
The blue light cystoscopy was a good idea for my husband. They found many additional tumors.
Here's a link explaining blue light cystoscopy:
https://www.pennmedicine.org/cancer/types-of-cancer/bladder-cancer/bladder-cancer-diagnosis/blue-light-cystoscopy
TURBT according to Cleveland Clinic (like Mayo Clinic) has great medical explanations. Here's the link-https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/turbt ; and here's an excerpt:
"What is transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT)?
Transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is a procedure that healthcare providers use to diagnose and treat bladder cancer at the same time.
During TURBT, a provider uses a long, thin tool with a camera on it (cystoscope) to find the tumor in your bladder and cut it out (resect it). Your provider sends the tumor to a lab where a pathologist will examine it. This helps determine its stage (how far it’s grown into your bladder wall) and grade (how different the cells look from normal cells).
Your provider doesn’t need to make any incisions for TURBT — the scope goes through your urethra (the tube that your pee travels through to get out of your body) to reach your bladder.
Why is TURBT done?
Providers perform TURBT when you have a tumor in your bladder that they need to biopsy and/or remove. It allows your provider to use just a single procedure to both remove and biopsy (take tissue samples from) the tumor."