BCG treatment

I am new to this site and don’t really understand it 

Hi Julie1812 and let me welcome you to the group. I am sure you will get lots of support and advice here from others who know what you are going through. Although I have not had BCG, I know the treatment you are heading for is fairly standard procedure. I have been here a long time and have seen many posts on BCG. The side effects can vary widely from person to person. Some people sail through it, while others have a lot of discomfort, but most are somewhere in the middle. i am sure people will be along to share their experiences when they pick up your post. I hope all goes well. Best wishes.

Thank you Rily, it’s nice to hear from someone it can be quite lonely at times I’m new to the site and the condition 

juloe

Hi again Julie1812. Although I had a different treatment, I understand what your emotions may be like at the moment. Cancer can be a lonely place. It is sometimes difficult to explain to friends and family how you are feeling. That's where this place comes in to its own. You can post here things you may not like to say in public, and people here will understand. The site itself can be a bit difficult to navigate. Any problems finding your way around, just ask. Best wishes.

Thank you for your help and welcomeness Rily 

Hi Julie1812,Welcome from me too.I can’t help with the BCG but I’m sure somebody here can advise.It’s a friendly group so hopefully you won’t feel so lonely.Love Jane 

Hi Julie1812, forgive delay in responding, I was racing off to my first pilates class since the start of the lockdown last year. Great to be back moving again! I've had 24 doses of BCG since my diagnosis in 2017, it's a long long treatment schedule, following exactly the same protocol your doc is suggesting. My diagnosis was G2 stage T1. As Rily has already said, everyone's response to BCG is wildly different. I've generally had an easy time with it, except for a few occasions when I felt slightly flu-like for a couple of days after infusion. The key thing to do is drink, drink, drink, at least two litres of fluids every day and particularly after the 2 hour holding period post-infusion. Flushing through the system is essential. Denby (another site member) heartily recommends lemon barley water and I found that works well for me. I also like Robinsons lime and mint squash. Neither squash is very sweet which is good when you are guzzling loads. I find it easier than plain water to swallow the required amounts. My Urology nurses are brilliant, very sensitive and supportive and so experienced with catheters. I also have a marvellous CNS who is at the end of a phone to answer any question I have. We know how lonely it can feel dealing with the fears, and we're all here to support you. Sending love Hx

Thank you H this is so helpful, I will

follow the advice you have given x obviously it’s all new to me and hearing the word cancer is horrible, I’m lucky in a sense mine hasn’t gone deeper into the bladder but unlucky that it is grade 3 aggressive, 

everyone on here seems so nice and helpful 

thanks again 

Hi Julie welcome to the group you will always find help on here for questions you need to be answered and plenty of encouragement and support  I am also grade 3 I was diagnosed with cis after my turbt and have had 6 bcg treatments so far and waiting for date to go in to have a rigid cystoscopy under anaesthetic at the end of the month .. I was also given the same regime for treatment from the urologist.. I didn't have a lot of problems with the bcg treatment just painful urinating for about 5 or 6 hours after the 2hours of holding in the bcg in my bladder .. drinking water all the time is so helpful at flushing you out .. try not to let the diagnosis take over your life or you will become so down and depressed I know it's hard but try to keep busy and walk in the fresh air .. try to take one day at a time and dont hink of the future too much ..take care and keep in touch love Tina xx

Thank you Tina, I will take your advice x especially about keep walking getting fresh air, can I ask have you finished your regime of BCG treatment or do you still have more to go after you rigid cystoscopy, 

wishing you all the best with the cystoscopy.

thanks again