Connect
Did anyone stop their BCG treatments after severe spasms and urination
My 6 weeks of BCG were not problematic. But the third week of maintenance was sheer hell—-extreme pain from bladder spasms every ten minutes followed by urination that left me dehydrated. It went on for two weeks, a trip recommended by my urologist to ER—lost 10 pounds. Should I change to GEM/DOCE or continue BCG?
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bladder Cancer Support Group.
Connect
Up to you and your urologist/oncologist. To me it sounds you are not fit for BCG. I do recommend a DNA panel like Altera. Some mutations are chemo refractory unfortunately.
My husband suffered a severe reaction/infection to BCG in December 2024 called BCG Induced Cystitis. He has spent the last year undergoing treatment for that infection and has finally been cleared as of 2 weeks ago. He was told he can never have BCG again due to this. When symptoms from BCG treatments become too severe it can be a BCG hypersensitivity which is an immune overreaction to the BCG. Some of the reactions are mild and others are severe. From personal experience, I would approach your situation very cautiously.
I’ve had 3 BCG treatments so far and I am have severe pain in a shoulders back and now it’s starting in my groin/ hips. I believe it’s my immune system over reacting and am wondering if anyone else has experienced this with BCG. My pain is at a level 7-8 whenever I move my shoulders and tramadol does not help at all