If cancer spreads

[Dunin2]

I have read on several sites that this cancer can spread to other areas of the body.
If this should occur does the immune system that has been activated by the BCG treatment also fight cancer in other areas of the body?

[Greg]

While bladder cancer recurs up to 80% of the time, its rate of progression from non-muscle invasive disease to muscle invasive disease is less than 20%. The stage and grade of tumour is often an indicator; the higher the stage and grade the more common may be the progression. But even if it progresses to muscle invasive disease, if found early enough, a radical cystectomy can remove the offending organs. Very often (though not always) systemic chemotherapy accompanies an RC to destroy wandering cancer cells that might take up residence elsewhere. My understanding is that BCG is for local disease contained within the bladder and in a non-invasive stage. It is not used for systemic therapy (especially since it is weakened TB bacteria). Local (called intravesical) treatments can also include chemo drugs like mitomycin and gemcitabine, among others, which are instilled into the bladder as BCG is. Systemic chemo of various kinds is designed to go throughout the body to attempt to eradicate or control spreading cells – in the lungs, bones, liver, etc. When the disease is metastatic, it has become very much more serious and is likely incurable. That is thankfully not the plight of most who get BC, but over 2,200 people per year in Canada face this reality.

[Dunin2]

Thanks Greg that is what I thought but it is nice to have it clarified.

[Author]

Posts