How is BCG treatment given?
BCG is given by intravesicular infusion. This means it is given directly into the bladder through a urinary catheter. The urinary catheter is inserted through the urethra (the tube which carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body). The BCG solution is injected into the catheter, which is then clamped.
How is BCG administered in bladder?
BCG is put right into the bladder through a catheter. It reaches the cancer cells and "turns on" the immune system. The immune system cells are attracted to the bladder and attack the bladder cancer cells. BCG must come in contact with the cancer cells to work.
What is the success rate of BCG treatment for bladder cancer?
This method of treatment is considered a form of immunotherapy, which is an emerging form of cancer treatment. The success rate for BCG treatment for bladder cancer is about 90%, which is considered the best life-saving rate by any treatment.
How do you mix BCG for bladder cancer?
To obtain the standard dose, the BCG vaccine powdered vial is usually diluted into 50 ml of normal saline. The diluted BCG is then infused into the bladder through a urethral catheter after complete drainage of the bladder. It should be maintained in the bladder for 2 hours.
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.
What are the side effects of BCG treatment?
What are some potential BCG treatment side effects?A small amount of blood in your pee.Low-grade fever (99-100 degrees Fahrenheit [37.22-37.77 degrees Celsius]).Tiredness.A burning sensation when you pee.Needing to pee more often (frequent urination).Muscle pain.Joint pain.
Can bladder cancer return after BCG?
The standard of care for patients with high-grade (HG) non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) remains intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) following transurethral resection. Unfortunately, up to 75% will develop tumor recurrence and 20% will progress within 5 years despite intravesical therapy.
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.
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 long-term side effects of BCG treatment for bladder cancer?
Commonly reported side effects of bcg include: urinary tract infection, detrusor hyperreflexia of bladder, fever, hematuria, urinary frequency, urinary urgency, vomiting, chills, and malaise. Other side effects include: arthralgia. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.
Does BCG treatment compromise your immune system?
Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination has been reported to decrease susceptibility to respiratory tract infections, an effect proposed to be mediated by the general long-term boosting of innate immune mechanisms, also termed trained immunity.
What are the side effects of BCG 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.
History of BCG
Uses
- BCG is recommended following tumor removal for some people with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). In this kind of bladder cancer, the muscular bladder wall has not yet been affected. BCG is recommended for people with high-grade tumors (which look more abnormal under a microscope). It is recommended for some lower-grade types of NMIBC tum...
Before Getting BCG
- Before you start BCG, you’ll need to talk with your healthcare provider to make sure BCG is the best treatment for your NMIBC. You might have other options, like not doing BCG or picking a type of chemotherapy to be inserted into the bladder instead.4 BCG therapy usually follows a procedure called transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). This treatment removes all v…
Precautions and Contraindications
- BCG should not be used in people who are immunocompromised, such as from medical conditions like AIDS or from genetic medical conditions. People taking medications that can suppress their immune system (like corticosteroids or cancer therapies) should also not take BCG.6 People who are pregnant should not take BCG therapy if possible. Pregnancy should b…
How BCG Therapy Is Done
- BCG as an immunotherapy for cancer is given through a catheter into the bladder, never intravenously or as an injection. This is usually done in an outpatient setting. The professionals there will assemble the BCG so that it can be safely administered. Your clinician will give you specific instructions about how you need to prepare ahead of time. You may need to limit your fl…
Side Effects
- It’s not uncommon for people to experience temporary symptoms after BCG therapy. Some of these might include 1. Burning with urination 2. Increased urinary frequency 3. Small amounts of blood in the urine 4. Fever and chills 5. Fatigue8 Such symptoms usually only last a day or two. Severe complications from BCG are uncommon, but they do sometimes occur. Because BCG do…