The Last Three Treatments Are Set To Begin (well sort of)

With my successful and clear cystoscope two weeks ago, I was set to begin the first of my last three BCG treatments today.  But, similar to a year ago, I've had to postpone the treatment by a week, due to blood cells in my urine sample this morning.

We don't have any explanation to why the blood is showing up again, but we can rule out cancer in the bladder lining, because of the clear results that I received two weeks ago from the cystoscope. When blood is showing up in the test, you can get very sick from treatment, so we will take this week off and try to start up the treatments again next week.  It is a little depressing to have this setback, when you get yourself all geared up mentally to spend the next 8 hours doing battle against this disease.

Half Strength BCG Makes A Big Difference

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.

Treatment Off To A Rough Start

Treatment #23 did not start out very well.  Getting the catheter into my bladder was a major effort and took three tries.  During the attempts my mind raced back to treatment #8, where it also took three tries and the pain of the attempts along with the high residual pain for an additional two days.  Well, Dr. T did eventually get the catheter and medicine into my bladder and it left me feeling very light headed.  Dr. T left the room and said that he would see me in another week and somewhere between trying to get off the table and get to my pants, I blacked out.  I came too laying on the floor and on my side.  I looked down and saw that I was unclothed from the waist down and deducted that I had fainted.  After getting my clothes on, I got the attention of my doctor and he had the nurses get me some water and started to take my blood pressure.  I remember that my second blood pressure test was 80/52, which is very low.  After getting Nancy to come back and passing my final blood pressure test, I was released to go home.

The normal 2 hours of rocking and 6 hours of drinking and peeing went very well after such a horrible start.  I did not have any appetite, but did eat dinner and some freshly baked chocolate cookies.  Thankfully, I've had no residual pain from the three attempts of the installation and now a day later, my only issue is a sore right side of my head that evidently struck the floor quite hard from the fall.

Next week is the last treatment until November.  We have decided that we will cut the strength of the BCG in half, so that we do not experience the large amount of bleeding that we had in the third treatment last fall. The third of the three treatments always has the most complications due to the cumulative effect of three treatments in a row.

Please pray for an easy installation next week and a minimum of side effects and pain.

Treatment #21

I thought that with about 7 months between treatments that today would be an easy day, but I was wrong. Installation and the two hours holding period were pretty routine.  The next six hours were just as intense as the last treatment with the only difference was the bleeding levels were below normal. Although 12 hours after the installation I was still passing blood.

The best news was that I had no chills today and wanted to eat at the end of the day.  I'm very thankful that I only have two treatments to go this month and three more in November.  Also, thankful for the answer to prayer today that the bleeding would ease up.

We go again next Wednesday morning...

Three Years Cancer Free

The cystoscope showed no signs of cancer today.  Three years have passed since the tumor was removed and I've gone through 21 treatments. My next treatment starts in two weeks and I will have three BCG treatments in May.  Dr. T said if the treatments continue to be as bad as the last one that we can stop or reduce the BCG to only 50% strength.  I told him that I would rather go to the reduced strength over quitting before we finish the 27 treatments. He told me again that the majority of patients do not make it to the end and that I'm doing very well. Looking forward to the challenge.

Two Days Until Next Test

It's been a while since I last posted on my blog and I thought it was time to let everyone know that I'm two days away from my next cancer testing.  I go into the clinic at 8:20am on Wednesday to have the next cystoscope procedure done.  If all clear, we should start the next three rounds of BCG treatments two week later and go through the end of May.  These treatments are preventative in nature and are the reason (besides prayer) that my cancer has not returned.  If all goes well, I will finish up with the last three treatments in Nov/Dec of this year.

Pray for a smooth and pain free procedure with clear results.  It is always a very difficult procedure to go through, but it is a much more effective way of finding any early stage cancer cells versus the CT Scan.

I'm feeling very good right now and continue to believe that we have the cancer at bay.  I will post on Wednesday the results.

Last Treatment of the Year is Done.

Treatment day today was very intense.  It started out very nicely with me no blood in the urine test and a very easy installation.  The weather was very nice this morning and I walk/jogged my typical 2 miles at the start of the two hour holding period.  Then the six hours of practically constant motion of drinking fluids and voiding the bladder.  I lost more blood today than probably all of the other treatment days combined.  The cumulative effect of three treatments back to back really wreck havoc with my bladder and I'm now more understanding of why it is hard to get to the end of the 27 treatments.  I have 6 treatments to go and we will start again in April after a clear cystoscope on April 9th.

My son, Andy, was home to help me today, but because of the frequency of my trips to the bathroom, he was needed as much as I had hoped on the flush patrol.  But, he did make some great chocolate chip cookies and homemade chicken noodle soup, which were probably the best help I needed today.

The tally for the day...it was a hugely draining day today (no pun intended).   The normal treatment day chills quit around the end of the 8 hours.  Already started to take some Tylenol for my body aches.  Extremely happy that it is over and that I have 6 months to get my strength back.