Hello and BCG impact query

Hi sig

Not had bcg treatment myself but there are many on the forum who have had it and are going through it at the moment. They'll be along soon to give their support and advice .

Best wishes 

Mark

Hi SiG,

Welcome to this friendly forum but sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

BCG can have varying side effects for different people. Some people sail through with little or no issues and others struggling with different issues.

Personally I haven't found it too bad (until recently).

For about 24 hours after most of my instillations I've had urgency and frequency, but this did normally lesson quite quickly.

I'm very fortunate that I can WFH, so not had to take any time off work. However if I had to go into the office then I would have certainly struggled the next day (have a 90min commute each way).

However since my last instillation (number 18 end March 2025) my frequency and urgency has carried on for way longer. It's getting better now though thankfully.

I understand the side effects can worsen with the more instillations and this is certainly true for me. 

On the actual day of the installation, you need to be near a loo. Ideally with only you using, plus you need to bleach the toilet and clean yourself after each wee for (6 hours after voiding the BCG). So it might be an issue depending on your work circumstances.

Wishing you the best of luck with the BCG and here's hoping you have no issues.

Number of people going through BCG on the forum and all are very supportive. I'm sure they will be along to offer more advice soonest.

Please keep us posted and any questions fire away.. I certainly had plenty when I started the course.

Take care.

Trevor 

Thank you Trevor. That’s a lot more reassuring. 

Hello SiG.

I too have been diagnosed with high grade T1 non invasive cancer.

I've just started my BCG treatments yesterday.

I came out of the treatment feeling very little discomfort, a bit dizzy when I was walking but that could have been dehydration to be honest. I recommend not drinking a lot for a few hours before so you can hold your pee and the treatment in for the whole 2 hours comfortably, its supposed to work better too!

It's only been 24hrs now since I've had it but I've been feeling reasonably okay. I do recommend a good days rest as do others on the forum.

I've experienced a mild headache, very mild body ache and just really tired. I haven't slept well to be honest. Had the maddest, vivid dreams last night with some broken sleep.

As for the toilet, I recommend being near one for 24hrs! Especially as you have to bleach and clean the loo for the first 6hrs, I suffer with lots of bladder spasms normally which can cause me a lot of pain that makes me double over on a regular basis so I precipitation of this I took 2 hyoscine Butylbromide (buscopan) tablets which have been prescribed to me by my GP and I haven't really had any problems, even with needing the loo every 30 secs which I was quite surprised and pleased about.

The treatment itself was easier than I thought it was going to be too. The catheter they use is so tiny and thin although a little uncomfortable I have to say I barely noticed it!

Like I said it's only been 24hrs but I recommend taking it easy for a day or two and just don't do anything too strenuous. I've heard it can make you feel worse as the treatments progress but it's different for everyone apparently.

Both myself and some other members on the forum keep mini diaries on their main profiles if you just tap on people's names you'll go to their home page and you can read all their updates if they post any!

On mine I've just started posting as I go my story, also some of my friends on my home page do also, maybe you'll find this useful?

Anyway!

Best of luck with your treatments! And honestly! It's not as scary as I thought it was going to be!

Hope it all goes well for you!

 Kitty xxx

Hi Sig, Welcome to the group, I had my 14th BCG treatment yesterday and I can honestly say I have had minimal side effects only urgency on the day of treatment no pain or discomfort that needed medication.  I hope your treatment goes smoothly good luck on your journey .Love Lynn .