Hi Jill
Sorry you have been diagnosed with bladder cancer. Yes we were all terrified when we first found out. Sharing with your family and friends can also be difficult. I chose to be positive with them, and tell them I required some treatments that would cure me. When I did have recurrences I chose to tell them that it was no big deal and that the treatments were working and I would be cured very soon. Even though I was terrified I put on the smiling face, but my wife knew I was terrified. In my case the BCG did eventually do the job and I have been now over 5 years cancer free.
The odds are in your favour that with the BCG treatments and 3 month check-ups that if you do have a recurrence, it will not go beyond TA. The problem with bladder cancer is it is very unpredictable, especially high grade and hence the reason for the 3 month cystos.
Insure to get a copy of your pathology report, and start keeping a journal recording each BCG treatment and how you felt after the treatment and for the next few days. Side effects do vary by patient, but the normal trend is they seem to be progressive with each treatment.
Keep us posted on your progress, and all the best with your next 5 treatments.
BCG = Bladder Cancer Gone
Jack
