Can you beat bladder cancer after BCG treatment fails?

Thank you for sharing this encouraging update and highlighting Gemcitabine/Docetaxel as an option for others to discuss with their medical teams. Treatment advances continue to provide new pathways forward when initial therapies don't achieve the desired results. This kind of hope-filled message can make a real difference for community members who may be facing similar challenges with BCG treatment outcomes.

I will be starting that same treatment in a week or two. I was wondering first why and what monthly treatments you are having every month. Is it more of the Gemcitabine/Docetaxel? Secondly I am curious if you became incontinent during and after the treatments. If so how long did it take to not be incontinent. If any women have had this as well and what their experience was? I’m wondering if it’s the same for a woman as it is for a man. I work full time on my feet for 10-16 hours a day with no breaks as I am a store manager. So I’m really worried about being incontinent. Thank you for sharing Robert. It did help to know it works. They skipped BCG treatment for me and went straight to this. I really appreciate the hope ❤️

The monthly treatment Is the same Gem/Doc I had as a six week round, only now monthly with a cystoscope planned after the third. After each treatment I had to pee very frequently for a day or two. After fourth or fifth it got a little worse. After the last, I had to go frequently for at least two weeks then started to improve. At four weeks I was back to normal. I use an app called Pee Water reminder to track how often. It gave me a sense of when I was getting better. There may be other apps as well. Don’t be embarrassed. Do what you have to do to beat the cancer. Good luck!

Thank you for being so open with all the info and steering me to an app. I wouldn’t even think that would exist but I guess there’s an app for everything. Lol

My treatment is once a week for 6 weeks. They didn’t say anything about more after that. Fingers crossed

Carlene, that sounds like your first Gem/Doc set. That’s what I had after 2 BCG failures. That’s what worked for me so my next thing is maintenance Gem/ Doc once a month to make sure it does not come back.

I completely agree - your story is such a beacon of hope for others facing BCG failures, and I'd also encourage people to ask their doctors about timing and eligibility for these newer treatments so they can plan ahead.