Hello PEW, I had discomfort urinating following treatment but that only lasted for a day. The trick is to drink plenty of water, at least2 litres per day. If you’re concerned about the bloating and tenderness have a word with your Cancer team. Good luck tomorrow.

Hi phew

Bcg is introduced into your bladder to irritate it and hopefully induce an immune response that will kill remaining or future  bladder cancer cells. Everybody's anatomy is different. Different bladder capacity,elasticity and in men the state of the prostate that all catheters big and small have to navigate. So everybody responds differently although there may be commonality. My experience has been a few days of cystitis and flu like symptoms including lethargy. It's also worth remembering that the urinary system is very complex and involves the autonomic nervous system, that's why many people want to urinate on hearing the sound of running water. In my case it has been heightened so different sounds bring on urgency but luckily I can outhink it and it goes away. I don't think the complexity of the situation is explained fully after diagnosis or maybe the medics aren't aware of everything that occurs during treatment but to be fair their main goal is to treat us and they are normally overworked and under appreciated. 

Good luck

18 down and 9 more to go

Thanks 

I’m hoping it might settle a bit over time.  You’re right I wasn’t told anything like the complexity of this treatment before it happened. I was just told “you’re get sick of the sight of us from now on. I’ve never seen a consultant except the morning of my surgery for 5 minutes. I found out myself what stage my cancer was when I saw the letter to my gp on my notes. It was a shock and later to find out my treatment plan on day 1 of it. But I am grateful to the team of nurses they have been great. Day 2 hear I come 

I can recommend Robinsons Lemon Barley water for liquid intake. The barley is said to have a calming effect on the bladder. Note this one is ~4% barley whilst most others are only ~1%

Thanks I’m willing to try anything 

These are normal. I also had haematuria with 5 and 6 doses, but only on one urination. Systemic effects were worse like fatigue, malaise, fever and light headedness [flu like symptoms] but only lasted six hours and disappeared with paracetamol 2 tabs and one Nurofen. I am glad I got all this, because it indicates that BCG is working to boost my immune system. Lemon-Barley water is really good. I also drink two cups of Acerola-Juniper berry tea in the morning and take a capsule of cytoprotective herbal capsule twice a day, in the belief that more anti-oxidants I have in my system, better it is. I am glad to report that my last cystoscopy under GA with biopsy was fine and showed that the bladder wall was infiltrated with granuloma [which is what you get with BCG. I am now going for doses 7-9 next week. Best of luck with your treatment. 

I’ve just had no 3 hanging off the ceiling at the moment  they have started me on Mirabegron to try and calm bladder down I seem to have pain urinating all the time from the day of my operation  taking pain killers all the time  my nurse said this can happen  roll on when I get 6 weeks off  is there light at the end???