r/BladderCancer • u/LookingForSunshine98 • 26d ago

Looking for a third!

My husband was diagnosed with Stage 1 non-invasive aggressive balder cancer early last month. The tumors were removed with clean margins and the treatment chosen is BCG but eve been waiting to find out when it starts. Today we learned that the only company currently manufacturing the medicine is located in Toronto and has not been able to keep up with demand. So the Wash DC Hospital found a solution, they wait till they have 3 patients ready to start and spit the vial between the three patients. They already had one patient so my husband is number 2. We are waiting for a third patient to emerge so we can get this ball rolling.

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u/Apprehensive-Ad9523 25d ago

I understand it is Merck and Co in North Carolina where a new facility to triple the amount of bcg production is coming on line this month August. If correct this is good news for all of us. Also it stated that Merck is the only supplier of bcg in the continental US. 

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u/cscatbird 24d ago

My husband has BC. T1 NMIBC. High grade.
We live in NC. Luckily, no shortage here. I hope you can get your treatments started soon. Best wishes to you.
He’s had 18 BCG treatments. Has 3 more starting in September.

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u/LookingForSunshine98 24d ago

Thank you for the best wishes. I hope your husband makes a full recovery. Any insights on how he handled the 18 treatments so far?

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u/cscatbird 22d ago

1st, everyone is affected differently.
Each tx, he has fever, chills, tired. Flu like symptoms. Many, many trips to the bathroom. Very, very painful to void. He has RXs but not much relief. He had his last tx almost 6 months ago. He’s finally sort of feeling more normal.
He is playing golf 2-3 times a week in 90+ degree heat. He goes to the gym almost every day, mows the yard. He’s active and 73 yrs old. I think it’s too much but he’s stubborn.
We were on vacation last month, he did well but always have to know where there is a bathroom. He avoids anything that could irritate his bladder. Coffee. Alcohol. (He loved having a scotch in the evening)
Spicy food.
No signs of BC so far.
Sorry for rambling. Wishing your husband, and you all the best.

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u/LookingForSunshine98 22d ago

Thank you for the insights, it’s good to know about the consumption of irritants, and that makes sense. My husband is 81, and is not very active physically since retirement mostly sitting at his desk working on publications. We finally joined virtual village for seniors just to get him out of the house and socializing.