Treatment FAQ

what are the side effects of bcg treatment for bladder cancer?

by Prof. Johan Reichert Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Common side effects of BCG include needing to urinate more often; burning or pain when urinating; blood in the urine; a mild fever; and tiredness. These side effects usually last a couple of days after each BCG treatment session. Less often, the BCG may spread through the body and can affect any organ.

Do BCG side effects get worse with each treatment?

The irritative reactions usually are seen following the third instillation and tend to increase in severity after each administration. There is no evidence that dose reduction or antituberculous drug therapy can prevent or lessen the irritative symptoms of TheraCys.

What are the long term effects of BCG treatment for bladder cancer?

In Summary. Commonly reported side effects of bcg include: urinary tract infection, detrusor hyperreflexia of bladder, fever, hematuria, urinary frequency, urinary urgency, vomiting, chills, and malaise.Nov 15, 2021

What are the long term side effects of BCG treatments?

Complications Following Intravesical BCG Immunotherapy These adverse effects include fever, malaise, and bladder irritation (urination frequency, dysuria, or mild hematuria).Dec 7, 2018

When do side effects of BCG start?

It's normal to develop certain side effects within the first 24 hours after BCG treatment. These side effects may include: A small amount of blood in your pee. Low-grade fever (99-100 degrees Fahrenheit [37.22-37.77 degrees Celsius]).Mar 1, 2022

Can bladder cancer return after BCG?

“Initially, it's effective,” says medical oncologist Noah Hahn, M.D. However, adds urologist Max Kates, M.D., “while up to 35 percent of patients have long-term, sustained remissions with intravesical BCG, as many as 60 percent of patients will have a recurrence of cancer within two years.Nov 2, 2020

Are BCG side effects cumulative?

BCG has a cumulative effect, so increased toxicity is to be expected during long-term administration. BCG toxicity is primarily a response of the cell-mediated immune system, and transient local or systemic infection appears to be important.

Can BCG treatment damage kidneys?

Local and systemic infection following intravesical BCG is widely reported as compared to immune mediated local or systemic hypersensitivity reactions involving kidneys; acute kidney injury (AKI) and other renal manifestations are well reported but not of chronic kidney disease (CKD).Dec 6, 2017

Does BCG damage the bladder?

Treatment with BCG can cause a wide range of symptoms. It's common to have flu-like symptoms, such as fever, achiness, chills, and fatigue. These can last for 2 to 3 days after treatment. It also commonly causes a burning feeling in the bladder, the need to urinate often, and even blood in the urine.Jan 30, 2019

What are the complications of BCG treatment?

The most common complications associated with BCG treatment are relatively minor. They include urinary frequency, cystitis, fever, and hematuria. Although serious complications are rare, patients can develop severe, life-threatening sepsis with disseminated mycobacterial infection.Aug 11, 2014

Can BCG cause hair loss?

Hair loss does not occur with BCG.Jan 1, 2012

Is BCG better than chemo?

BCG is most commonly used in intravesical immunotherapy for NMIBC and appears to be more effective than intravesical chemotherapy in preventing tumor recurrence and progression. Especially for those with high-risk NMIBC, BCG immunotherapy is considered as a gold-standard treatment (29).Mar 1, 2019

How many times can you have BCG treatments?

Maintenance BCG is typically given once per week for three weeks at 3, 6, and 12 months after the initial BCG treatment. In some cases, maintenance BCG treatment will be recommended for one year for those at intermediate risk of recurrence and for three years for those at higher risk for recurrence.Sep 24, 2021

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