Page 1 - BCG Treatment for Bladder Cancer

Urological Health
BCG treatment
for bladder cancer
BCG treatments are used to reduce the risk of bladder tumour recurrence.
ou have been found to have cancer of the
Ybladder lining. It has been treated by cauterizing
or scraping using an instrument passed through the
urethra (the “urinary passage”). Even if all visible
cancer has been removed, microscopic disease
may remain from which new tumours can develop.
Your doctor has recommended BCG treatments to
eliminate possible remaining cancer cells and reduce
the risk of recurrence.
Bladder tumour
tumour
bladder
urethra Roula Drossis
BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guerin) is a bacterial vaccine
originally developed for the prevention of tuberculosis.
When placed in direct contact with bladder cancer,
it stimulates a reaction that can kill cancer cells and
prevent them from coming back. Experience in many
thousands of men and women has shown it to be
effective at controlling bladder cancer.
Generally, your urologist will recommend a course
of BCG treatments once every week for six weeks,
starting several weeks after surgery. The treatments will
be administered at your hospital or clinic. Your doctor
may advise additional treatments several months
after your first round. Sometimes, these maintenance
treatments may continue for several years.
Before your treatments
BCG works best when kept at full strength in the
bladder. To prevent dilution of BCG by urine, you
should limit your fluid consumption to no more than
250ml (1 cup) in the four hours before each treatment.
Diuretic medications (“water pills”) increase urine
production and have the same dilution effect. They
should be taken two hours after your treatment rather
than before.
Notify your doctor or nurse before your treatment if:
• you are pregnant.
• your immune system is suppressed by illness or
medication, including steroids.
• you have a bladder infection, often indicated by
increased voiding frequency and urgency, burning
with urination and cloudy, foul-smelling urine.
• you have had a heart valve replacement.
• you have recenly seen blood in your urine.
BCG treatment
Your doctor or a nurse will administer your BCG
treatments. A narrow tube (catheter) is advanced
through the urethra into the bladder. After draining
any urine, a small volume of BCG solution is put into
the bladder. The catheter is then removed. You will be
advised when you can go home.
When difficulty is encountered during the insertion
of the catheter, BCG treatment may be postponed
for one week. The introduction of BCG into the
bloodstream or body tissues can cause serious illness.
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