Page 2 - BCG Treatment for Bladder Cancer

BCG treatment for bladder cancer
After your treatments
BCG must be kept in contact with the bladder lining
for it to be effective. This may be improved by lying
down on your front, back and each side for 15
minutes at a time over one hour. It is best to delay
voiding for about two hours after each treatment.
When it comes time to void, this should be done
sitting down to avoid splashing. BCG is a live vaccine
that can cause harm if it comes into contact with
other parts of the body. After emptying the bladder,
the BCG must be neutralized. This is done by adding
household bleach to the urine in the toilet.
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. Wash your
hands and genitals thoroughly after each void during
the first six hours after treatment.
Contact with urine should be avoided for six hours
after each BCG treatment. Any area of skin contact
should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.
Urine splashes should be wiped up with a strong
disinfectant or bleach.
Sexual intercourse should be delayed for at least
24 hours after BCG treatment.
After each treatment, it is not unusual to have a
headache, low-grade fever (less than 38.5°C or
101°F), poor appetite and low energy for up to three
days. Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol™) often will help
to alleviate these symptoms. More frequent and
urgent urination with mild burning is common for a
few days.
This publication is produced by
The information in the publication is not intended to convey medical advice or to substitute for direct consultation with a qualified medical
practitioner. The Canadian Urological Association disclaims all liability and legal responsibility howsoever caused, including negligence, for the
information contained in or referenced by this brochure.
© 2014. Canadian Urological Association. All rights reserved.
Follow-up
After your course of BCG treatment, you will need
to be reassessed to see how well it worked. Urine
samples may be examined for the presence of
cancer cells (urine cytology) and your bladder will be
inspected visually with an instrument passed through
the urethra (cystoscopy).
Further BCG treatments may be recommended. In
some cases, additional treatments including surgery
may be required for cancer control.
Call your doctor or nurse if:
• Your urine is very bloody. It is normal to have a small
amount of blood in the urine after your treatment
but this should clear up within three days.
• You have chills and a fever over 38.5°C (101°F).
• You have prolonged nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
• You have new joint pain lasting for more than three
days after your BCG treatment.
• You develop a skin rash or a new cough.
Your BCG treatments are
scheduled to begin on:
___________________________________ (date)
at ____________________________________ (time)
at __________________________________________
___________________________________ (location)
or
You will be contacted soon with the time,
date and location of your BCG treatments.
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