The side effects of BCG that you mentioned....fatigue, low fever, flu-like symptoms, urinary urgency, burning, bleeding.... are the most common. VERY RARELY there are serious effects (have you read the side effects lists of any other drug you are taking? Scary. But they must list them all.)
Another good summary of the procedure
www.bcgoncology.com/treatment/bcg.html
Practically everyone who has BCG treatments has some of the side effects....in fact, this is a good thing because it indicates that your immune system has been "kicked up" and is fighting the cancer. If the symptoms become too uncomfortable, your urologist can reduce the dose even down to 10% of the starting dose. By the time I finished my maintenance series, I was down to 1/3 dose. These reduced doses are just as effective. Usually at first the effects are very minimal, but as your body reacts to the drug (as it is supposed to do) they can increase.
Your urologist will be especially careful NOT to give you a treatment if your bladder is especially irritated or if you have any signs of infection. They always do a urinalysis prior to treatment. You are very unlikely to have any truly serious side effects.
In reality, BCG is very do-able. In the first place it can greatly reduce the chance of recurrence of the bladder cancer. In the second place, it is NOTHING compared to the systemic chemotherapy that some cancer patients endure. I liken it to a dental appointment!
Be very grateful that something like BCG is available.
It can be a life-saver!!!
Good luck to you.
Sara Anne
