So sorry that you have to join our "club," but very pleased that you found us. You will find lots of information on this site (more than you can probably swallow in one meal) and lots of people who have been where you are.
BCG is not the most pleasant undertaking in the world...I would compare it to a dental appointment
but it can be life saving. As you no doubt have read, it is not chemo, with all of its systemic effects, but a localized jolt to the immune system directly in the bladder lining. Most people get through this with minimal discomfort and disruption of their daily activities. Dr. Donald Lamm, currently in Phoenix, is one of the developers of the protocol that most urologists use with BCG. Here is a summary from his website:
www.bcgoncology.com/treatment/bcg.html
It is important to be treated by a urologist who has extensive experience with bladder cancer cases. Many urologists treat primarily prostate issues and may not be up to date on bladder cancer. I am surprised that your urologist "left it up to you" about beginning BCG. Mine had practically made the appointments for me before our discussions...I had CIS and he insisted that I immediately cancel a scheduled trip to China so that I could begin these treatments! (CIS is high grade and can be quite aggressive.) Anyway, I would have a frank discussion with your urologist as to his experience with bladder cancer such as yours and with the use of BCG.
Once you have a treatment plan, you might chose to have a consultation at a center that has specialists in bladder cancer.
If you go to our home page, at the very top, click on HELP, then on "Reseached Resources," and, finally, on
"Doctor and Center Locator" you may find sites close to your home. The very best result of such a consultation will be that you are receiving the very best advice and treatments available from your local urologist. And if not, better to find that out now than later.
As for Chinese medicine...I really have no experience. However, I would want to be at a place with the very best medical care available (see above)
using state-of-the-art treatments. It might be well worth your while to plan to stay near home for a year or so until your treatments are pretty well completed and your condition has stabilized. Not sure I would trust BCG from a Chinese source...well, I am sure that I wouldn't.
Best of luck to you and please feel free to "pepper" us with questions. We are not doctors, nor have we "played one on TV", but we do have a lot of experience.
Sara Anne