Urgency and Frequency - Also alcohol trice a week to relax with wife with DVD - She deserves that.

Hi ern007, glad you have found this group where I expect there will be others (in particular men) better able to advise than me. Hopefully someone with similar experiences will pop along soon. I'm a 79 year old woman, and since 2017 I've had the full BCG protocol (27 doses) and quite a few recurrences, but finally the tumours stopped reappearing in 2021. Phew ...so far 5 years all clear! During my treatment I kept alcohol intake pretty minimal, maybe two glasses of wine on a Saturday night unless it was actually the BCG dose weeks when I didn't drink any alcohol. Now I still drink far less than prior to my bladder cancer because I feel I need to avoid dehydration, but I do drink a couple of glasses of wine maybe two weekend evenings a week. I also make sure I get 2 litres of water or lemon barley squash most days. One thing I do know is that having cancer means grabbing every pleasure you can enjoy especially with the ones who love us. Enjoy your happy evenings with your supportive wife is my view. Sending best wishes Hx 

Hi ern007 . Sorry to hear what you have been through with all the discomfort. Alcohol has always been a bit of a grey area. Some people give up altogether while others enjoy the odd drink. I asked my consultant about this and was told a few beers should not do any harm but try and avoid the gassy mass produced stuff and try real ale. When I was going through treatment, a pint was a welcome relief after a day in the chemo chair. Everyone's treatment is different though, so always best to check with the medics. Best wishes.

Thank you  I had most of the BCG but being it went back hi grade  I was put on TULA (Laser)  instead.

I have drank with Cancer before with no bad effects - this is different with the frequency.  Glad you have no cancer now. I am 80 so not done so bad, not they have a policy find it and zap iit.xx

Thank you rily - i have had Bladder Cancer since 2020 - We normally had a drink twice a week. I shared trooper Brown Ale with the wife, I had 4 small whiskies  and was fine - no reaction.  But just befor and after my last TURBT  I have run toilet every 4 hours some days, than makes me wary,  Ernest

One of life’s greatest pleasures cake x

Maybe ask your wife if she minds not drinking or having less? I don't drink beer or lager these days but a glass of red wine very occasionally with dinner. My husband has a bigger glass while I have a smaller one to keep him company. I make sure to have at least 2 litres of water daily as usual.

In my case I prefer to celebrate with a latte, he has a cappuccino, and we share a cream cake in one of our favourite cafes. I no longer have a bladder and am pleased with how that worked out,  (and he had prostate cancer 10 years ago treated by focal therapy) he takes drugs to ensure a reasonable flow. I'm 73 and he is 9.years older.

Not sure I've answered your query, except to perhaps suggest a slightly different way around life, post treatment.

All the best,

Latestart

Hi, I had bladder cancer in 2024. had the operation to have it removed now all good, I have my second check in december this year. Still have a mild urgency to pee including the night. But you mention about having a drink or two, I have a drink or three and i think it helps to keep me sane.

Good Luck

Hi. I am an 82 year old female. I’m currently on my 6 week BCG Induction course and still drink my weekly bottle of red wine always with accompanying glasses of water. The water habit was started many years before I developed Bladder Cancer. I am not advocating this for others and must add that possibly because I have a good recovery period following on from BCG infusion day as opposed to feeling totally fatigued or suffering discomfort where I would have no interest in a tipple of any kind, I continue living my life as I have always done. Although medical research points to alcohol consumption, unless taken in the extreme that is, being a cause of bladder cancer, the effect it will be having on my bladder as I go through treatment, whether it will reduce the effectiveness of BCG or not, remains an unknown to me at this time. For now I am continuing to live my life with bladder cancer just being a part of it. 

Oops, Missed out an important little word in a sentence in my last post: ‘NOT’. ‘not being a cause of bladder cancer’.