I'm happy to say that my installation was 100% better than last week. There were no issues at all with the catheter and that was a huge relief after what happened last week. Hopefully, it was from better relaxation on my part.
The BCG strength was cut in half for this treatment, due to the bad side effects that I had during treatment number 21. BCG treatment effects and side effects are cumulative in nature as you continue to bombard the inner lining of the bladder with TB. Not only do the three treatments in a row have a cumulative effect, but so does all the other treatments over the last three years. Dr. T had stated that we could either stop the treatments all together because of the side effects or cut back on the strength. He was very impressed with getting through the first 21 treatments and said that we have gotten further into the treatments than most. I decided that I would go with the half strength on the 24th (last of the three in May) and see what happens.
What happened was that instead of a very intense 6 hours (after the two hours of holding the BCG), it was only intense for the first 3 hours. Still the constant running to the bathroom during the start, but the last 3 hours were much less in the trips to the toilet. I still had a sore bladder at the end of the day, but it was much more manageable this time. The bleeding was still evident throughout the day, but it was at the regular levels versus what I experienced in session 21 last fall.
It is not unusual to cut back the strength as I have seen in posts at www.gotbladdercancer.blogspot.com the author had the lower dosage recommended by Dr. Lamm himself. I feel that the key is to try to get to the end and if the last of the three treatments in a rotation has a lessor does, that is okay if it gets us to the end.
My next Cystoscope will be on October 29th and then the final 3 treatments will be in November. I've started my research on a two week Hawaiian vacation for the following February.
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