BCG Treatment

Hi and welcome to the community and our corner of it. It depends on the staging rather than grade. If non invasive, then BCG treatment is usually a standard procedure. Do you have the actual stage and grade ? Best wishes.

rily

Thanks for reply I wasn't too sure I had managed to post properly.  my diagnosis was G3 Ta/T1 bladder cancer TCC.  I am not quite up to speed with the jargon on staging at the moment, I was told that it is non invasive at this time, I did ask about BCG and was told by my nurse that the urologist wasn't considering this.  Thanks again, appreciated.

Take care,    

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Hi . Ta/T1 is very early stage and you are fortunate that is has been caught early. TCC (transitional cell carcinoma) is easier to remove via surgery as opposed to other types which are more difficult to remove. G3 is the more aggressive type of abnormal cell. BCG is used if there is considered a risk of it recurring. If your urologist is not considering any further treatment, they may think that the surgery has been sufficient. In any event, you should have a follow up appointment to discuss things and you should be regularly monitored to see how things are. You may have been given a contact number for a dedicated CNS ( clinical/cancer nurse specialist). If you ever have any concerns then your CNS is always a great source of information. Best wishes.

Gold standard would be a second TURBT to ensure no muscle involvement. Then, I  believe according to NICE guidelines, that diagnosis should mean you are offered either BCG treatment or immediate RC (radical cystectomy - surgery to remove the bladder). My diagnosis was TaG3 & those were the options I was given. After deliberation, I chose RC, but it's a hard decision & each person has their own rationale for making a choice.

If your urologist is not suggesting any treatment at all, then do get a second opinion at a more major centre. Bladder cancer is highly likely to recur & can progress to become muscle invasive, in which case prospects for cure are reduced.

Sorry, I've just read your bio & seen that you did have the second look which was OK. Vigilance is important & BCG is proven to be effective in delaying recurrence & may in some cases cure. However it is toxic treatment, there may be some health reason why they are not suggesting this.

Glad to hear you've already had one all clear. There will always be some lucky people who don't get recurrences, or not for some time.

Hi rily,

thanks for the speedy reply, I’m glad you picked up my post, answer has made me feel much better, more aware and given me some direction.  I had a check flexible cystoscopy at the end of April which was clear and another one booked for end July, I will start talking to my CNS and taking more interest in everything.

Thanks again

scispap 

Teasswill,

Thanks for your reply, I did have a second TURBT after the high grade result came back from the first one, the biopsy from this one came back as showing no evidence of recurrent cancer, since then a check flexible cystoscopy at the end of April with another booked for end July 2019.  Good information about guidelines and 2^nd opinion has got to be a good idea, will definitely look into a way forward on that.    You’re very brave, must have been difficult to come to that decision but also understandable.

Nobody has mentioned any health reasons for my not being offered BCG but I will definitely ask the question

Take care, good luck and thanks again, appreciated.