Carol, BCG is very do-able. You will find LOADS of information on this web site.
Remember that BCG is NOT chemo, such as many cancer patients suffer through. It is an "immunotherapy" where the BCG (an attenuated tuberculosis bacteria) is used to stir up your immune system, especially in the bladder lining. Then your now-pepped up immune system will fight the cancer cells.
Most patients do very well with BCG. The most common side effects, which tend to increase as your body becomes sensitised to the treatment, are fatigue for a day or so after, cramping and blood in the urine for a few hours to a day or so after, burning with urination. If the side effects become too uncomfortable as you progress, your urologist can reduce the dose...I was on 1/3 by the end of the maintenance treatments...and doses as low as 1/10th the original dose have been shown to be effective.
IF you have NO side effects, I would wonder if the BCG is "working." The fact that your body reacts, shows that it IS working!
A good summary of a lot about BCG can be found on Dr. Donald Lamm's website...
he is one of the experts in this treatment.
www.bcgoncology.com/treatment/bcgInst.html
Several things to remember as you read this....all POSSIBLE side effects are listed (you have seen all the drug ads on TV) and the odds are that you will NOT have any severe reaction. Second, the protocol that your urologist follows may be a bit different, but still a good one.
In my opinion (not a doctor, remember
) is that it is well worth it to go through the maintenance regimine after you finish the initial 6 weeks. It has been shown to increase the effectiveness of the BCG significantly.
Please feel free to ask any other questions you may have. There are a LOT of us who have been through this. In my case, I am now 6 years cancer-free!
Sara Anne