Chemo

Hi . This is a prevention treatment. It mops up any rogue cells after your TURBT and also helps to prevent recurrences. 6 sessions is the usual initial treatment. You say chemo, which is usually a drug called Mitomycin. This is inserted in to your bladder via a catheter. You need to try and hold it in for up to 2 hours. You are awake during treatment, similar to a flexible cystoscopy, but the catheter is a lot smaller. Side effects vary and can build up over the weeks. Some people have little side effects, while others tend to have more discomfort afterwards. This is a very similar treatment to BCG which is an immunotherapy treatment rather than chemo.

Macmillan have produced information on the treatment if you click HERE and I am sure others will be along to share their experiences. Best wishes. 

Hi Steve,

I had 6 doses of mitomycin last summer after several reoccurrences. It’s a very straightforward and quick procedure. It’s inserted via a small flexible catheter and the whole process was over in 5 minutes. As rily has said you have to hold the liquid for a certain length of time, at my hospital it was an hour. I didn’t have to stay at the hospital and was allowed home after the procedure.
After going to the toilet you need to bleach the loo and also wash yourself thoroughly down below. That is important as I found to my cost the next morning!

I found it a fairly painless procedure and didn’t suffer any side effects apart from being tired towards the end of the 6 weeks.

The good news is that since then I’ve had two clear flexis so it’s obviously worked.

Best wishes Luce 

Hi Steve, Mr Denby is a veteran of a number of mitomycin treatments. I would agree with all the other comments notably the self washing to prevent skin damage that can take some time to settle.

The upside compared to chemo for pretty well anything else, is that it won't make you sick or make your hair fall out or any of those things. Just that fatigue can indeed build up over the course.

The chemo can still work to clear the cancer-has done for Mr D.- even if it is so irritant that you don't manage to keep it in for the 'required' time before peeing. There is an anti-spasm medication available too if it turns out to be needed. For travelling home it might be wise to have a pee bottle in the car, put on man Tena pants and have wash down kit all organised in case of getting caught short. Better ready and not need it than t'other way round. Pee bottle in a plastic container by the bed is good at night if needed, just be mindful of the wash-self-off and very careful emptying.

So all round if you have any worries still bothering you, just come back on and ask as we will be pretty sure to have some answers for you.

Denby

Hi Denby thank you for your fantastic information, 

I will follow your advice , 

Hi Luce , thank you for your fantastic information, 

I live alone and I don’t like asking for help , I always feel I’m putting someone out , 

Am I best getting a taxi to take and pick me up 
I had the turp two weeks ago and still feeling uncomfortable in my lower stomach 

thank you 

Steve 

Hi Rily thank you for your fantastic information 

I find that you give information that I can understand and get it right in my mind , I think when someone is talking to you by the phone you can’t take it in too well 

again thank you 

Steve 

Strummer,

I'm that awkward one that had an allergy after my first dose of MMC, I know, there's always one.  When I got home my bladder started to itch, & continued for a week!   Not painful, just very aggravating, I spent that week lying down & kicking my legs in the air to try & scratch that itch.  But I do tend to have allergies to quite a few things, so I suppose it was to be expected for me.  Hopefully it will be different for you, as you can see by other comments that many have this treatment without too much fuss.  I'd definitely get a taxi home, I wouldn't risk public transport as you probably wouldn't make it home.  All the best mate!

Hi Steve,

I wouldn’t have thought they would start the treatment until things had settled down after your TURBT. Have you got a date yet?

My husband came with me for my first session as I didn’t know how I’d feel afterwards. I was fine so went on my own after that. I was given a free parking pass for the duration of the treatment, don’t know if other hospitals do the same.

My appointments were early afternoon so I knew I could get home within the hour, about a 35 minute journey.

It’s unfortunate in the present situation that no one can take you. I think you are probably best seeing how you feel when your first appointment is due. Your letter should say how long you will have to keep the mitomycin in your bladder which may influence your decision to drive or take a taxi.

Luce x

Hi Luce, no date set at the moment , I have prostate cancer as well so my latest PSA as gone up considerably so they are waiting now to give me another prostate biopsy to see if the cancer is spreading, 

thank you for your information, I find that I can take in other peoples journey with cancer than a consultant just saying words to me 

take care 

steve x