Q: What is the difference between Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy?
A: There is no real difference to how these are administered for Bladder Cancer. The main difference is that Immunotherapy gets the body's own defence mechanisms to fight the cancer where chemotherapy actually uses the drugs to do that.
Q: Will you lose your hair during treatment?
A: No - both treatments are given directly into the bladder and so are directly in contact with the Cancer. This way it is contained wholly where it is needed. Unlike other treatments this is locally confined and you don't lose your hair.
Q: So how does it get into your bladder?
A: OK - this is a Yuk bit - The vaccine is a liquid that is given directly into the bladder through a tube (catheter). That is passed up your Urethra. I refer to this as a "Character Building" treatment.
Q: Does it hurt?
A: In my case, no it doesn't hurt. Getting the vaccine in is uncomfortable but it is quick and whilst it can be a little sore, it really isn't that bad.
Q: Are there any side effects?
A: Yes and these do hurt a bit - I have bleeding and what can only be called massive cystitis symptoms for about 4 to 6 hours, 4 hours after the treatment. This stings and hurts but it isn't enough to double you up in pain, it is uncomfortable and there is a lot of stinging etc. Some people get no symptoms at all and others get far worse with flu like symptoms on top of these ones.
Q: Is this a one off treatment?
A: I doubt it. It tends to be one off for now, followed by tests and then a series of maintenance repeats are undertaken. These happen less frequently over time as long as things are improving. At the moment the first course is 6 times (once a week for 6 weeks). I believe follow ups are 3 treatments (once a week for 3 weeks) at 6 monthly intervals for a number of years and then it goes out to 9 monthly and possibly yearly. Unfortunately we are talking many years for the maintenance to continue.
Q: Are you able to work?
A: I am but not full time at the moment and neither can I travel too far. My job involves a lot of travel which has had to be curtailed. I am able to work at home on PC and Telephone so I am lucky. The biggest problem I have with work is my concentration is not what it was either. Generally, once things have settled down you should be able to work as well. I don't know how some of the people I have read about can have this treatment and go to work the next day though.
Q: Are there any upsides?
A: Loads of upsides to being diagnosed with Cancer. Suddenly the rest of your life is important. Time means a different thing, TV gets switched off, life becomes "Too short" when you have to listen to the day to day trivia some people think is important. You can say what you like and it doesn't matter (kind of). You see things a lot clearer, you hate shallowness and you also become an expert in your own disease and don't understand why no one else is. You also understand that Cancer is treatable, recoverable and you find it difficult to keep patience with others who don't know that. You try your hardest to be nice to people who are "sorry" for you. You realise that before you were diagnosed you were as ignorant about your disease as everyone else around you is. You can bore anyone rigid who wants to hear all about what you have :-) There are lots more upsides - I'll try and think about it and post more later.
