what is bcg treatment for bladder cancer

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Bacillus Calmette-Guerin or BCG is the most common intravesical immunotherapy for treating early-stage bladder cancer. It’s used to help keep the cancer from growing and to help keep it from coming back. BCG is a germ that’s related to the one that causes tuberculosis (TB), but it doesn’t usually cause serious disease.Jan 30, 2019

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.

What are the side effects of BCG therapy?

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.

Is BCG treatment a form of 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. While chemotherapy drugs attack cancer cells directly, immunotherapy drugs harness the power of your immune system.

How long do you hold BCG in bladder?

You will be asked to hold the BCG in your bladder for as long as possible up to 2 hours after each treatment. Be sure to lie on your stomach for the first 15 minutes after treatment. minutes, then on your side for 15 minutes, and then on your other side for 15 minutes.

How painful is BCG treatment?

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.

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 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 treatment make you sick?

Some people may experience flu-like symptoms for a few days after having BCG therapy. In rare cases, BCG can spread to other parts of the body and cause an infection. Anyone who experiences signs of infection or serious side effects should speak to their doctor immediately.

Can BCG treatment damage the bladder?

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.

How do you clean toilet after BCG?

To avoid transmission of BCG to others, for 6 hours after treatment patients should void (urinate) while seated to avoid splashing of urine. Urine voided during this time should be disinfected with 2 cups of household bleach into the toilet water and letting it stand for 15-2 minutes before flushing.

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.

Can you drive after BCG treatment?

You will need to keep the BCG in the bladder for two hours. After this time you will be able to go home. You should feel well enough to drive yourself home after the treatment, but on the first occasion you may want to ask for a friend or relative to collect you, just in case.

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