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BCG and UTIs: Anyone else get urinary tract infections?

Posted by wohali @wohali, Mar 26, 2025

I had one BGG treatment and have been unable to continue because of persistent UTIs. It's one antibiotic after another and none help. Anyone else in this situation? I am an 86 year old male and want to get on with my treatment.

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squilliam60 | @squilliam60 | Jul 5 6:00pm

It’s my urologist who’s treating me for everything, I had the Turbt, then BCG, or I’m trying to get them done. The stricture is a big issue they feel, causing the UTI’s this when trying to insert the catheter for BCG

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mochat | @mochat | Jul 5 8:01pm
In reply to @hummelb99 "May I ask which oncology clinic you go to? I will approach my oncologist once more,..." + (show)
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May I ask which oncology clinic you go to?
I will approach my oncologist once more, since she does the cystoscope and my urologist does the inbetween and follow up visits.
Thank you for your reply.

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@hummelb99
Hi, sorry reply has taken so long but I only just found your message.
I am in Australia and we have 4 hospitals in our town but only 1 offers the Bluelight, which is what my urologist recommends.
I don’t get any say in which day I go as I suspect, due to the cost of this equipment, that it is only available at certain times.
Good luck

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honey750 | @honey750 | Jul 13 12:17pm

I also get a lot of UTI' s. I just finished 15 Gem/Doce treatments. The last 3 were maintenance. And, that's when the UTI's started. However, there is no infection/bacteria. So, I can't take antibiotics. I take pyridium and advils as needed. It's been 2 months and though it has gotten better, I still have pain over my abdomen. Anybody else feels like this? I am in remission and will go back for a Cysto in December. Just want to feel better until then. I was taking Methenamine, like Hyprex, it is not an antibiotic, just keeps UTI's away. But, the Dr just suggested that I should stop them. Been on them for 12 months. So, hopefully the real UTI's don't come back. Wish you all good luck and may you find relief and answers. I have high risk NMIBC, Carcinona in Situ for 3 years.

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 18 3:46pm
In reply to @squilliam60 "@colleenyoung my cardiothoracic surgeon originally said he wanted me to finish BCG treatments, but the aneurysm..." + (show)
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@colleenyoung my cardiothoracic surgeon originally said he wanted me to finish BCG treatments, but the aneurysm is now at a point that I have to have it fixed, or nothing else will matter. I see my urologist tomorrow for this scarring in my urethra, the thought is that the scarring/stricture is causing the uti’s because it’s become so difficult in inserting the catheter. He’s “popped”… it twice now, seems to come back. Just a bad situation as I feel like ok… which one will get me first! I’m hoping he can remove the scarring tomorrow, I can get maybe 2 more BCG treatments in before the open heart surgery. Any suggestions?

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@squilliam60, how are you doing? What was decided regarding continuation of BCG now or after heart surgery?

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squilliam60 | @squilliam60 | Jul 18 4:33pm
In reply to @colleenyoung "@squilliam60, how are you doing? What was decided regarding continuation of BCG now or after heart..." + (show)
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@squilliam60, how are you doing? What was decided regarding continuation of BCG now or after heart surgery?

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@colleenyoung I have to wait till after my heart surgery, which is right now tentatively scheduled for the 24th of July. Dr did do another cystoscope and found a 2nd “small” tumor… ugh… just awful set of circumstances I’m facing. But then a 2nd Turbt and Gemcitibene is what I heard. But it’ll take clearance from cardiology, surgeon etc… I’m in a difficult situation.

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