Just had cancer removed am starting onBCG treatment next week. What side affects

6 years 11 months ago #53068 by NWJ
sara. anne, thank you for pointing this out.... I am a NOOB as well, and was not aware of the search options. this might answer a few questions that I too have had..

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6 years 11 months ago #53067 by lorena56
Hello, i was diagnosed last year in January 2016, had my BCG treatments had no side affects but have a lot of UTI lately , 2 tumors were removed one aggressive one was not, i get checked every 3months so far no signs of cancer, mentally i not doing well very scared!!!

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6 years 11 months ago #53054 by Sean T
I had no side effects. Absolutely none.

08/16/16 - TURBT - 1 tumor, T1HG, 7.5 cm x 7.5 cm x 1.8 cm, non-invasive papillary.
BCG treatments (15 doses total - last March, 2018). As of latest cysto, As of May 4, 2023 - cancer free!

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7 years 1 week ago #52993 by playerhot

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7 years 1 week ago #52975 by sara.anne
There is a lot of information about BCG on this Forum. Go to the search button at the top and search for BCG.

But to give you a quick rundown, you should have very few real side effects for the first few. You will be advised to hold it for two hours...by the end of that time you will be MORE than ready to pee it out! If you can't make it for the entire two hours, just do the best that you can. You will really have to pee for the next few hours and may have cramps and real urgency. Be sure to have chlorine bleach (the old fashioned liquid kind) ready and follow your doctor's directions.

The next day you may feel quite fatigued and still have a bit of urgency. As your treatments continue the side effects may become a little more severe....this indicates that your immune system is reacting, which is exactly what you want to happen.

If the side effects become too severe,it is possible for your urologist to reduce the dosage significantly with no loss of effectiveness.

It is very rare to have really serious issues. BCG is nothing like traditional chemo and we are lucky to have it!

You will be fine!

Sara Anne

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator

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7 years 1 week ago #52972 by drdetroit056
dont know what to expect from BCG treatment starting next week

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