Epirubicin

[Suzanne]

I thought I had received Mitomycin C after my TURBT but it says in the medical file (which I got today from the hospital archives) that I actually had Epirubicin. Someone knows what’s the difference between the two?
Thanks.

[Jack Moon]

Both are chemo treatments, with Mitomycin C being the most widely used chemo for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer with 1 instillation treatment following a Turbt. Quite frankly I have not heard of too many patients receiving Epirubicin as a single instillation treatment following a Turbt. That does not mean it is not used as a bladder cancer treatment following a Turbt. I recommend you ask your doctor why he/she instilled Epirubicin vs Mitomycin C.
All the best,
Jack

[DDep]

Chabada

Epirubicin is widely used in Canada as a post-TURBT Chemotheraputic treatment. Both Mitomycin C and Epirubicin are equally effective.
Whether to use Mitomycin C or Epirubicin is a decision between you as a patient, and your Urologist to use what is best. As Jack has said, the Urologist will clarify when asked.

Ref. Canadian Urological Association (CUA) Guidelines https://www.cua.org/themes/web/assets/files/nmibc_guideline_for_mem_rev_09_06_15.pdf , July 2015

Quoting, beginning with the last sentence on Page 10,

“Immediate postoperative instillation of the chemotherapeutic agent is recommended for all patients with NMIBC after TURBT (Grade B recommendation). … For patients in whom treatment with BCG is planned, the benefit of an immediate postoperative instillation of chemotherapy is less clear (Grade D recommendation). Overall, long-term recurrence reduction is similar between the different chemotherapeutic agents, being in the range of about 15%. The most commonly used intravesical chemotherapeutic agents in Canada are MMC and epirubicin.”

HTH

God Bless

DDep

[Suzanne]

Thanks to both of you Jack and DDep, very informative. I *will* ask my urologist at my appointment next week. It was far from a decision I made with my doctor! I only heard about the treatment when I was in the OR. The surgeon (not my Urologist) told me not to worry, that they were going to “give me ‘a medication’ after the intervention to prevent it from happening again”. No-one told me what it was, and I didn’t have the presence of mind to ask… but in the recovery room the nurse ordered the medication and the instillation was done when I was back in my room. It’s only when I was back home and did some research that I assumed it was Mitomycin-C (I didn’t even know it was chemo!). But of course I am just glad the tumour is now gone (the uro said it would be quick and easy, like “an oil change”)… I hope communication with my urologist will improve in the future if I’m going to see him regularly!

thanks again for your replies.

S.

[marysue]

I have found that doctors and specialists sometimes omit details of our treatment and use vague terms like “gave you something to prevent it from coming back” rather than naming a drug or the actual procedure.

I personally get annoyed with doctors when they do this. I don’t know whether they think a patient may not understand or think it is best that the patient doesn’t know, or they are just not sure how to explain to a patient or it is a subtle tactic to maintain their power and control over a patient. What I have learned in this journey is to ask every step of the way, the how, why, wherefore of everything my docs prescribe, test procedures, you name it. My current uro is great in realizing that I’m educated and detail oriented and want to know these things. My eye doctor and family doctor are pretty good too. I have dealt with specialists in the past that have kept me in the dark so to speak and that to me creates a feeling of mistrust because I always think “What are they hiding from me?”. I’d rather know the full scoop and now speak up if I don’t get what I’m looking for from a doctor.

The other thing is that they often tell us things when we are still under the influence of anesetic or some medication and then get puzzled when we can’t recall what we’ve been told. It is important to have discussions when you are clear headed and can make the proper and informed decision for your care.

[Author]

Posts