“It felt warm and a little like pins and needles on my lower belly. I was relieved that my bladder didn’t feel irritated or unhappy and closed my eyes..” Electric star graffiti in Ehrenfeld Cologne – photo by howlzap Cologne

EMDA (Electro Motive Drug Administration) with Mitomycin started on Wednesday I reported to the ward early and waited ages for something to happen until 4 monster pills were presented. These are to alkalize the urine and allow better absorption and are to be taken about two hours before EMDA so I still had some thirsty waiting ahead (beverage stop from the previous evening)!

Two hours later I was wheeled to the treatment room where I immediately spied the catheter of bright-purple-Mitomycin. My bed became the treatment couch with a layer of absorbent padding to catch spills. Apparently, the chemo is normally removed directly after the 30 mins EMDA, which surprised me as I’d read it was left in for another 2 hours. However, the doctor said I could leave it in longer and explained the steps:

  1. Local anesthetic gel applied
  2. Catheter (complete with electrode) inserted and residual urine emptied
  3. Bladder rinsed with saline solution
  4. Mitomycin C inserted
  5. Lubricant gel applied to the lower belly
  6. Two electrodes placed on the lower belly
  7. Electric pulses turned on

It felt warm and a little like pins and needles on my lower belly. I was relieved that my bladder didn’t feel irritated or unhappy and closed my eyes and did some pranayama 4,4,,4 box breathing. I relaxed and it seemed like no time until an alarm rang, the machine was turned off and the electrodes were removed. I agreed to keep the chemo in a while so the catheter was removed too*, and half a tube of antiseptic cream applied to my now red lower belly. I was wheeled back to the room where I left it in for 45 mins and then greedily drank water, tea and veggie juice to start flushing out the ”purple-rain.”

Fingers crossed it penetrated further into the bladder lining and worked some magic.

Update:23.08.20 On Wednesday they changed the protocol to leaving the catheter in for as long as the Mitomycin stays inside. Then a nurse drains the toxic chemical out into the catheter and it’s disposed of safely.