Update

Hi Joyce,I hope your anxiety will decrease now you know more about the cancer and what can be done for it.I expect the others with experience of BCG will be along to support you and offer their insights.Love and best wishes Jane x

Thanks so much. It’s been so long being anxious it’s become a bit of a habit. I saw the tumour on the 19th October and today I have a cancer nurse and a path. Replies from this forum got me through the worst days. So thank you 

Hi Joyce,

Sorry to hear you've been suffering with anxiety, but it's good that you've got offered a treatment plan.

I was also diagnosed with high grade non muscle invasive BC back in early 2023 and I've had 15 BCG instillations to date with my next session due to start soonest. Just waiting for the results from my last biopsy.

I'm scheduled to have 27 which will finish around end August 2026 all being well.

You will have 6 instillations at the beginning, this is called the induction course. You will then have maintenance instillations which are 3 instillations. All instillations are given once a week all being well.

The first couple of maintenance instillations are done at 3 Monthly intervals and then moves to 6 monthly intervals.Give or take a few weeks.

It's not been too bad for me. Getting inflammation of the the bladder which causes some discomfort and the 24 hours after each instillation can be very tiring. This doesn't mean you will have the same side effects.

My consultant said all looked well and hopefully the results will confirm this.. fingers crossed... 

This will mean I'll be two years cancer free, so the BCG appears to be working.

A number of people on her are going through BCG so any questions fire away.

Wishing you the best.

Trevor 

Thank you so much for your reply and the information about the timing of treatment. I wish you well and hope the results of the biopsy mean you are cancer free. My fingers are crossed for you xx

That's very kind, many thanks.

BCG is definitely a long haul treatment plan and not a walk in the park by any stretch of the imagination , but when you get the all clear it does help with the process.

Morning Joyce, Yes Anxious times. However, starting a course of BCG instillations is a step forward along the road to recovery. I was diagnosed with BC in 2017 and had Chemotherapy and Chemoradiotherapy. I had a couple of recurrences which have been treated with BCG (15) I have been clear now for 18 months. BCG is fairly straightforward and I tolerated it quite well with a few off days here and there. I used to imagine the BCG attacking the meanies in my bladder which got me through the slight discomfort. Good luck Joyce on your journey. Garviv

Thank you Garviv.so kind of you x

Hi Joyce, I am sorry for you suffering with anxiety at the moment and hope you have support in place to help you cope with it. Its good that you now have a plan of treatment and you know your diagnosis. I hope this knowledge brings you some reassurance . I have had 13 BCG instillations so far and have been clear now for 21 months so it appears to be working for me. Its a bit of an emotional rollercoaster at times, but i am happy to carry on until someone tells me otherwise. If you click on my profile I have recorded each step of treatment ( to help memory and for reference) , hope this helps. I have had a good response with minimal side effects so far . Good luck and keep in touch