Bacillus calmette-guerin (BCG) therapy: BCG is a type of intravesical immunotherapy, and can be an appropriate way to treat early-stage bladder cancer. BCG is a bacterium that does not cause any serious disease, but is related to the germ that causes tuberculosis. For bladder cancer treatment, BCG is inserted into the bladder through a catheter.
What is the best treatment for bladder cancer?
Treatment for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer
- Low-risk early bladder cancer. Low-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer is treated with transurethral resection of a bladder tumour (TURBT).
- Intermediate (moderate) risk early bladder cancer. ...
- High-risk early bladder cancer. ...
What are the best treatment centers for bladder cancer?
Why choose Memorial Sloan Kettering for bladder cancer treatment?
- Our multidisciplinary team is among the most experienced in the field. ...
- Our surgeons are highly skilled at using advanced techniques that can limit side effects and speed recovery. ...
- Our medical oncologists specialize in chemotherapy for bladder cancer. ...
- Our radiation oncologists use advanced techniques to target areas at risk. ...
What is included in treatment protocols for bladder cancer?
Treatment protocols for bladder cancer are provided below, including those for the following:
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Systemic neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy.
What is the treatment for Stage 1 bladder cancer?
Treatment options and recommendations depend on several factors, including:
- The type, stage, and grade of bladder cancer
- Possible side effects
- The patient’s preferences and overall health
What happens after BCG treatment for bladder cancer?
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.
How many times can you have BCG treatments for bladder cancer?
BCG is in a liquid solution that is put into the bladder with a catheter. The person then holds the solution in the bladder for two hours before urinating. The treatment is usually given once per week for six weeks, starting approximately two to three weeks after the last TURBT.
How long does BCG bladder treatment stay in your system?
BCG can remain in urine for 6 hours after your treatment, so each time you urinate, you should bleach the toilet in your home to neutralize the vaccine.
How long does a BCG treatment take?
BCG is given once a week for six weeks, starting 2–4 weeks after TURBT surgery. It is put directly into the bladder through a catheter. This is usually done as a day procedure in hospital, and each treatment session takes up to two hours.
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).
What are the chances of bladder cancer returning after BCG treatment?
“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.
What happens after your first BCG treatment?
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.
Does BCG cause hair loss?
Hair loss does not occur with BCG.
Is BCG a chemo or immunotherapy?
Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) treatment is a type of intravesical (in your bladder) immunotherapy. This liquid drug is made from a strain of Mycobacterium bovis — the same bacterium used to create the tuberculosis vaccine.
How do you feel after BCG treatment?
BCG immunotherapy can cause a number of side effects. It is common for people to experience flu-like symptoms, such as chills, fever, and fatigue, for 2–3 days following the treatment. Other common side effects include: a burning sensation or discomfort in the bladder.
How do you clean a toilet after BCG?
For the first six hours after each treatment, pour 250 ml (1 cup) of bleach into the toilet after every void. Let the bleach sit in the toilet for 15 minutes to neutralize the BCG before flushing. Your washroom should be well ventilated since the mixture of urine and bleach can sometimes give off strong fumes.
What is the success rate for BCG?
The success rate for BCG treatment for bladder cancer is about 90%, which is considered the best life-saving rate by any treatment.
Treating Stage 0 Bladder Cancer
Stage 0 bladder cancer includes non-invasive papillary carcinoma (Ta) and flat non-invasive carcinoma (Tis). In either case, the cancer has not inv...
Treating Stage I Bladder Cancer
Stage I bladder cancers have grown into the connective tissue layer of the bladder wall but have not reached the muscle layer.Transurethral resecti...
Treating Stage II Bladder Cancer
These cancers have invaded the muscle layer of the bladder wall. Transurethral resection (TURBT) is typically the first treatment for these cancers...
Treating Stage III Bladder Cancer
These cancers have reached the outside of the bladder and might have grown into nearby tissues or organs.Transurethral resection (TURBT) is typical...
Treating Stage IV Bladder Cancer
These cancers have reached the abdominal or pelvic wall (T4b tumors) or have spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant parts of the body. Stage IV ca...
Treating Bladder Cancer That Progresses Or Recurs
If cancer continues to grow during treatment (progresses) or comes back (recurs), your treatment options will depend on where and how much the canc...
Which Treatments Are Used For Bladder Cancer?
Depending on the stage of the cancer and other factors, treatment options for people with bladder cancer can include: 1. Surgery 2. Intravesical th...
Which Doctors Treat Bladder Cancer?
Depending on your options, you can have different types of doctors on your treatment team. The types of doctors who treat bladder cancers include:...
Making Treatment Decisions
It’s important to discuss all of your treatment options, including their goals and possible side effects, with your doctors to help make the decisi...
Help Getting Through Treatment
Your cancer care team will be your first source of information and support, but there are other resources for help when you need it. Hospital- or c...
What is the first treatment for bladder cancer?
Chemo (with or without radiation) is typically the first treatment when bladder cancer has spread to distant parts of the body (M1). After this treatment the cancer is rechecked. If it looks like it's gone, a boost of radiation to the bladder may be given or cystectomy might be done.
What is the treatment for T3 tumors?
An option for some patients with single, small tumors (some T3) might be treatment with a second (and more extensive) transurethral resection (TURBT) followed by a combination of chemo and radiation. If cancer is still found when cystoscopy is repeated, cystectomy might be needed.
What to do if you have cancer that hasn't been removed?
(Less often, close follow-up alone might be an option.) If all of the cancer wasn't removed, options are intravesical BCG or cystectomy (removal of part or all of the bladder).
How to get rid of stage IV cancer?
The tumor is then rechecked. If it appears to be gone, chemo with or without radiation or cystectomy are options.
What is stage 0 bladder cancer?
Stage 0 bladder cancer includes non-invasive papillary carcinoma (Ta) and flat non-invasive carcinoma (Tis or carcinoma in situ). In either case, the cancer is only in the inner lining layer of the bladder. It has not invaded (spread deeper into) the bladder wall.
How long after TA surgery can you get chemo?
For low-grade (slow-growing) non-invasive papillary (Ta) tumors, weekly intravesical chemotherapy may be started a few weeks after surgery. If the cancer comes back, the treatments can be repeated. Sometimes intravesical chemo is repeated over the next year to try to keep the cancer from coming back.
What is the treatment for cancer that recurs in distant parts of the body?
Cancers that recur in distant parts of the body can be harder to remove with surgery, so other treatments, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or radiation therapy , might be needed. For more on dealing with a recurrence, see Understanding Recurrence.
What is the treatment for bladder cancer?
Depending on the stage of the cancer and other factors, treatment options for people with bladder cancer can include: Bladder Cancer Surgery. Intravesical Therapy for Bladder Cancer. Chemotherapy for Bladder Cancer. Radiation Therapy for Bladder Cancer. Immunotherapy for Bladder Cancer. Targeted Therapy Drugs for Bladder Cancer.
What are the things to consider when considering cancer treatment?
Some important things to consider include: Your age and expected life span. Any other serious health conditions you have. The stage and grade of your cancer. The likelihood that treatment will cure your cancer (or help in some other way) Your feelings about the possible side effects from treatment.
What kind of doctor treats cancer?
Based on your treatment options, you might have different types of doctors on your treatment team. These doctors could include: 1 Urologists: surgeons who specialize in treating diseases of the urinary system and male reproductive system 2 Radiation oncologists: doctors who treat cancer with radiation therapy 3 Medical oncologists: doctors who treat cancer with medicines such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy
What do people with cancer need?
People with cancer need support and information, no matter what stage of illness they may be in. Knowing all of your options and finding the resources you need will help you make informed decisions about your care.
What are the things to consider when making a treatment decision?
Some important things to consider include: Your age and expected life span.
What are the services offered by the American Cancer Society?
These might include nursing or social work services, financial aid, nutritional advice, rehab, or spiritual help. The American Cancer Society also has programs and services – including rides to treatment, lodging, and more – to help you get through treatment.
Is treatment information given here official policy of the American Cancer Society?
The treatment information given here is not official policy of the American Cancer Society and is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your cancer care team. It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions, together with your doctor.
What is the procedure called to remove bladder cancer?
It usually follows a procedure called transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). It’s intended to help prevent recurrence. This treatment only affects cells inside the bladder. It’s not useful for later stage bladder cancer that has spread into or beyond the bladder lining, or to other tissues and organs.
How long does it take for a bladder catheter to unclamp?
You’ll be instructed to lie on your back and to roll from side to side to make sure the solution reaches your entire bladder. After about two hours, the catheter is unclamped so the fluid can be drained. If the catheter was already removed, you’ll be asked to empty your bladder at this time.
How does a BCG catheter work?
A urinary catheter is inserted through your urethra and into your bladder. Then the BCG solution is injected into the catheter. The catheter is clamped off so the solution stays in your bladder. Some doctors may remove the catheter at this time. You have to hold the medicine in your bladder.
How to get rid of BCG in men?
Disinfect the urine by adding 2 cups of bleach into the toilet. Let it stand for about 20 minutes before flushing. You should also wash your genital area very carefully after you urinate, so your skin doesn’t become irritated from the BCG. Wash your hands thoroughly, too. Men can pass BCG to their partner during sex.
How long after BCG treatment can you have sex?
Men can pass BCG to their partner during sex. For that reason, you should avoid sex for 48 hours after each treatment. Use a condom between treatments and for six weeks following your final treatment. Women should avoid getting pregnant or breastfeeding while on BCG therapy.
Can you have more than one cancer treatment?
how well you tolerate certain treatments. Cancer treatment usually involves more than one type of therapy, which can be given at the same time or one at a time. That makes it difficult to compare one treatment to another.
What is the treatment for bladder cancer?
Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment approach that uses drugs and vaccines to harness the immune system’s natural ability to fight cancer, in the same way it fights off infections. The approach is still being researched and there is a lot left to learn, but clinical studies have shown that immunotherapy holds a lot of promise in its ability to treat a wide range of malignancies, including some types of bladder cancer.
What is the procedure to remove a bladder tumor?
Cystectomy (Bladder Removal) Surgery. When bladder cancer tumors completely invade the bladder’s muscular wall, the standard of care is to perform bladder removal surgery. Typically, complete removal of the bladder ( radical cystectomy) is required. Partial cystectomy is rare because the requirements are that the tumor is easily accessible ...
How does intravenous drug therapy work?
Intravesical drug therapy involves placing medicines directly into the bladder via a urethral catheter to lower the recurrence rates of bladder tumors. It is usually used for multiple carcinomas in situ that cover a large area (5 centimeters-plus), or for high-grade or high-stage tumors.
What is the procedure called when a camera is passed through the urethra?
Cystoscopy is an outpatient procedure during which a thin, lighted tube with a camera is passed through the urethra into the bladder, allowing your doctor to see the inside of the bladder.
How does chemotherapy work?
Chemotherapy uses chemical agents to interfere with replication and other normal functions of cells, resulting in tumor shrinkage or cancer cell death . The use of two or more chemotherapy drugs together has been found to be more effective than a single drug alone. There are several types of chemotherapy.
What percentage of bladder cancer is superficial?
Bladder Cancer Liver Gallbladder and Pancreas Urological Conditions Cancer. Over 75 percent of bladder cancers remain confined to the lining of the bladder and do not invade the bladder wall. These are called nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer, or superficial bladder cancer, and when managed well, they are associated with excellent prognoses.
What is a TUR procedure?
Transurethral resection (TUR) is an endoscopic or scope procedure that does not involve making an incision in the body. Drug therapy after TUR is commonly prescribed for patients with large, multiple or high-grade tumors.
The Early-Stage Bladder Cancer Treatment
Jennifer Welsh is a Connecticut-based science writer and editor with over ten years of experience under her belt. She’s previously worked and written for WIRED Science, The Scientist, Discover Magazine, LiveScience, and Business Insider.
Who Can Use BCG?
BCG is a treatment for early-stage bladder cancer that has not yet invaded the muscle of the bladder wall. Called non-muscle invasive bladder cancers (NMIBCs) or in situ bladder cancers, these account for about half of all bladder cancers. 3
What to Expect During BCG Treatment
First, make sure you haven’t had any fluids for four hours before the treatment. Right before you go into the treatment room your doctor or nurse will have you empty your bladder. 2
How to Prepare
To prepare for the BCG treatment, your doctor will likely have you undergo surgery to remove any visible cancer in the bladder. The surgery is called transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) and is usually done about two weeks before BCG therapy.
When to See a Doctor
There are a few side effects that can be especially dangerous, so make sure to talk to your doctor if you notice that you: 2
Other Treatments for Bladder Cancer
For many early-stage bladder cancers, BCG is the best option for treatment. Other treatments for bladder cancer include:
Summary
BCG treatment is a form of immunotherapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. It is administered into the bladder through a catheter. It then activates the body's immune system to attack the cancer cells.
