Treatment FAQ

what is a bcg treatment in the bladder

by Alberto Bernier Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Treatment. With BCG treatment, your healthcare provider delivers immunotherapy drugs directly to your bladder through a catheter. Unlike oral or injectable drugs, BCG treatment targets cancer cells inside of your bladder without having a negative impact on the rest of your body.Mar 1, 2022

What is the success rate of BCG treatment for bladder cancer?

The success rate for BCG treatment for bladder cancer is about 90%, which is considered the best life-saving rate by any treatment.Dec 20, 2021

What are the side effects of BCG treatment for bladder cancer?

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

Does BCG cure bladder cancer?

Outlook. BCG has been used to treat noninvasive bladder cancer for a long time. It's an effective way to get your own immune system to attack the cancer cells in your bladder without harming other tissues and organs.Sep 27, 2017

Is BCG bladder treatment painful?

It is generally not considered a painful procedure, though some may find it uncomfortable. Any urine remaining in the bladder will be drained and then a BCG solution will be inserted into the bladder next to the tumor and should remain for two hours.Sep 28, 2017

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

Is BCG considered chemotherapy?

Is BCG treatment a form of chemotherapy? No. Although intravesical immunotherapy and intravesical chemotherapy are given the same way, these two treatments use different types of drugs.Mar 1, 2022

Why does bladder cancer keep coming back?

Patients with recurrent bladder cancer have cancer that has returned following initial treatment with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or immunotherapy. A variety of factors ultimately influence a patient's decision to receive treatment of cancer.

What happens if BCG treatment fails?

BCG failure usually carries a risk of recurrence but rarely of progression. For low-grade failure, intravesical chemotherapy is a valid option. This scenario is different from that where BCG intravesical therapy is unsuccessful in high-risk T1 disease and/or CIS, where a risk of progression may sometimes reach 50%.

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.

Can you drink coffee after BCG treatment?

You may also experience a small amount of bleeding and discomfort when passing urine, particularly in the first 24 to 48 hours after treatment. Drinking plenty of clear fluids will help. Avoid tea and coffee as caffeine tends to make the bladder irritability worse.

How long are you contagious after BCG treatment?

To protect your partner from coming into contact with BCG, you should not have sex for 48 hours after each treatment. Use a condom if you have sex at other times during the treatment course and for six weeks after treatment has ended. This medication should not be given to a pregnant woman except when clearly needed.

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