Bladder cancer spread to prostate. Will BCG work?

Is it the thought of the surgery your husband can’t face ? It is a big op but once you have recovered you only need scans and sometimes bloods as follow up.I hope someone can answer your question.Best wishes Jane 

Hi Jane, yes, he was scheduled to have the bladder and prostate removed and have a stoma and bag but right at the last minute he just couldn't go through with it.  He has asked to give the BCG but his consultant doesn't think it will work......just vainly hoping that someone can tell me that it did work for them as i am very worried!! 

Hi LilBB605748 

I’ve had my bladder removed, but I’m a woman so was in a very different situation. However my father in law was diagnosed with MIBC and a completely separate prostate cancer at the same time. He went with the consultant’s recommendation to have both removed as he couldn’t have chemo or other treatment because of a heart problems.

He was 78 at the time, and is 80 in November. He’s coped well with having a urostomy. Obviously his situation was different in that his bladder cancer was muscle invasive, so BCG wasn’t an option, but I hope your husband can consider what his consultant has said about BCG and for the chance of it working or not. 

Sarah xx

Sorry…to add. I’ve just noticed in another reply to you that the prostate can be removed via a TURP procedure, but this is not the case. This procedure removes part of the prostate, but doesn’t remove it completely.

Sarah xx

Hi Sarah, thanks for that info.  We think about nothing else at the moment and any advice or information is most welcome! Lee xx

We were both anxious prior to my partner’s cystectomy surgery for bladder and urethra pipe removal as it was the fear of the unknown to a certain extent but we knew it was going to be the only real option going forward and the Consultant said as much. We were glad when we heeded his words as we later found out that cancer had been found in his prostate too but luckily it had been removed already.

My partner has adjusted really well with a stoma bag even though he never wanted one. He thought of it as a negative and felt embarrassed about it. I said to him that yes it is a huge change but he should see it as a positive thing that is saving his life. 

Since the op he feels differently about it, and jokes with me about me having to go toilet in the night when he has his night bag! 

Hope this helps you in some way 

Thank you Dark Sky, those are all very positive comments and I think ultimately my husband may have to go down that route but he needs to get his head around it first.  The problem is he feels so well, I almost wish he felt poorly then he might accept it a little easier!! Lee

My partner said he felt well prior to diagnosis other than feeling like someone had pulled his batteries out, but when the Consultant bluntly explained everything it put things into perspective for him and he realised he couldn’t avoid making some sort of decision. He has people he wants to be around for like his grandchildren and me so looking at the long term picture for him he said it was really a no brainer and the only logical choice. He was glad he made the decision to go ahead when he did and they got it done so quickly given his cancer being aggressive non invasive. He was worried that if he had left the decision later would it lead to more complications.

I hope that by sharing this it will help in some small way. 

• What you have said makes so much sense and I wish my husband would see it that way!  He has had the prognosis set out very clearly but he still cannot bring himself to just go for the surgery.  If the BCG doesn't work (which doesn't sound like it will) then there is no other alternative  but I still don't know if he will be able to bring himself to go through with it.  He got really close to having the surgery done a couple of weeks ago but when the consultant went through all the possible complications and side effects of the surgery at the hospital he just lost his bottle and couldn't go through with it.  He has always been pretty fearless and strong but this has broken him.  Such a worry!! Thank you Dark Sky for your supportive words.  Lee xx

I'm here to add my vote for cystectomy. Perhaps your husband could meet someone who has had the operation face to face? I had mine done in January 2023, and can't say I felt fit then (after chemo) but on diagnosis no one could believe I had cancer - like your husband. However, bladder cancer doesn't hang about and despite the months of chemo mine progressed. I was very relieved to be rid of my bladder then (I'm female so no prostate). 

It's a big operation and like anything else there are potential complications but if he is fit he'll be in a good way to have a swift recovery. Maybe he should ask the surgeon what his success rate is? 

I never had BCG (as my cancer was muscle-invasive so they had to get it out before it spread) but I have read all the posts here from people who have and I can tell you that it doesn't sound like an easier option to me. Once my cancer was gone I had quarterly reviews now six-monthly. BCG is all about regular treatments and can take more than a year. Granted you keep your bladder and, maybe, prostate but if the surgeon thinks it's better out maybe he has a point? I don't miss my bladder at all and bless the night bag that enables me to get a good night's sleep.

Finally, nobody knows I have a bag unless I tell them (but of course I do - it saved my life). Once you get used to the stoma and bag it's all routine. Cleaning and changing it is straightforward - specialist stoma nurses support you all the way. Don't know if you have kids, but the whole thing is just like changing a nappy except there's no smelly bundle to get rid of - just a very small black bag, containing some cleaning wipes, empty used stoma bag and that's it.

Good luck to you both and I hope things go well for you.

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