BCG side effects

Trish,

None of these are in your head! I never realized how fatigued I looked until 3 months post to where several of my accounts opened up and were wondering if I was losing the battle! 8 years post life is good and I take one day at a time. As you are doing so well I would never say stop on your protocol however, there are many thoughts on exactly what is the optimum. My URO had me do 6 on, 6 week wait then 6 more reasoning that there are risks in everything so he stops at 12. He also learned under our friend Dr. Lamm which appears to be what you are on, so his protocol does differ from his. I have read about doing just 6 (a well respected, I think now a retired Dr. Herr of Sloan Kettering had that one). I have seen one a month for 12 months. The important item is BCG works! If it becomes too unbearable, nothing says you have to continue and as others have stated a reduced dosage sometimes is good plus I would guess you have beaten it all back. Keep those scheduled scopes that are imperative!

Hello, Trisha! And Welcome!!!

I moved your post here, to Non-invasive, since that is where most posts about BCG are. You will see that there are a LOT of posts about it, especially at the top of the topic where they are highlighted.

You are doing exactly as expected with the BCG. Its purpose is to kick up the immune response in the bladder lining so that it rejects any cancer cells that might be present, and it certainly seems to be doing that! Of course, it is affecting other parts of your system also.

Fatigue is one of the first side effects that usually hits patients.
Chills, and a little fever are also not unusual. IF a fever hangs on or gets to be high, you need to call your doctor ASAP. Otherwise, it will get better soon.

And, as you have noticed, the side effects increase as time, and the number of treatments, increase. This is because your body is becoming sensitive to the BCG...which is EXACTLY what you hope will happen. When you feel these side effects, just sigh and remember that this is the result of BCG fighting on your behalf!!!

Sara Anne