Connect
Do you have increasing incontinence following BCG treatments?
Do most members experience increasing incontinence following their BCG treatments? Yesterday I had my 4th round and today, I have already experienced two incontinence episodes. What a terrible feeling to be in the kitchen preparing breakfast when all of a sudden, it's akin to a dam breaking and there is nothing you can do about it but rush into the bathroom for a complete change of clothing.
I have had isolated incidents in the recent past so I am no stranger to this, unfortunately, but it seems to be happening more often lately. I am aware of medications which can attend to this problem but when I read about the side-effects, I am hesitant to take a chance on any since I am hypersensitive to everything it seems.
I would like to know if any members have this increasing difficulty and whether they take any medication/s to attend to this disturbing problem.
Thanking in advance those members who respond.
Best wishes,
Bobbie/deidre77
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bladder Cancer Support Group.
Connect
I had 5 instillations of GemDoce and have started my 12-month maintenance. I am male 85.
I know what you are experiencing as I had the same. Even now I have the occasional "emergency," so I always wear a Depend or a CVS equivalent pad, or their full underwear. It's a nuisance, but most times prevents embarrassment.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI am in my 5th BCG treatment. While I have been having many more urges and frequent trips to the bathroom, I do get the feeling that I need to go early enough to get to the bathroom, but quickly.
I have had similar experience, but worse. My dr. prescribed Mirabregon which helped somewhat after about a month. I wear Amazon Basics underwear all the time. I have another appt with my dr. soon, because he thinks there may be some other cause. (I fell and broke my pelvis and that's how they discovered I had bladder cancer.). Good luck.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHi,
I have now had a total of 18 BCG treatments over the past year and 1/2, and have very
luckily had no major problems.
Urination does burn a bit the 1st time or 2 after the treatments, but not unbearable. The only problem
I've noticed is the frequency of urination. I pee probably twice as many times as I used to, and I learned very quickly, 😅 go quickly!!! I use Care-free pads in my whitey- tighties, but would I rather deal with bladder cancer - NO!!!!
CHEERS, 84yosk8r
@85yosk8r
You must be so weary after having completed 18 BCG treatments. I will be having my 5th instillation this coming Thursday and I'm plum tuckered out already!
You mentioned you were not having any problems so I am assuming your cystoscopy results showed no presence of tumors. If this is the case, your treatment was a success and hopefully it will be smooth sailing from now on.
Sending my best wishes.
@deidre77
Thanks for the good wishes. I count myself as one of the lucky ones!! I go for my final (I hope) cystoscopy next Monday and if it also is clear, I should be free of treatments for 6 Mos. to a year. The reason I feel so lucky is because my tumor was found totally by accident. I was receiving a green light laser operation to decrease the size of my prostate and my urologist found the tumor while preforming the operation.
She removed it and it has not returned in 1 1/2 years of 5 sessions of BCG. I didn't have cancer on my bucket list, so I'm sure glad it hasn't returned! I think that part of the reason I didn't find the BCG treatments so bad is because 3 years ago I was tick bit and ended up getting the trifecta of tick
diseases - Lyme, anaplasmosis, babesiosis. I have never been sicker in my life, and the treatments were unspeakable!!! I was told babesiosis is very similar to malaria and treated similarly. Believe me, every article of my outer clothing is now treated with permetherin and I don't head to the garden or my apiary unless fully covered.
Cheers, 84yosk8r
@85yosk8r
It is uplifting to hear a success story like yours and you certainly deserve that, having been through your tic-bite ordeal.
Be well and be careful of those bees.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI have uncontrolled incontinence as a result of having had six BCG treatments. My urologist told me this will be transitory but it has been a long time since my last treatment and it is becoming worse with time - so much so that I am never sure when this will occur. It is not a matter of leakage but rather a downpour so to speak and it has become extremely discouraging. I am intending to seek a second opinion as I do not wish to continue with BCG since my scope afterward showed the presence of two flat tumors.I am now entering my second year and the added burden of continued incontinence is extremely demoralizing. I am interested to know if others have sustained incontinence following their treatments and how they contend with this discouraging issue.I would appreciate any responses and thank you in advance.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsDeidre77, I haven't had bladder cancer, but know that incontinence is a common effect with BCG. And it may still go away if you switch to other treatments. There might be a better choices for you.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsHad an old school doctor for primary care until about seven or eight years ago. Had a digital prostate exam every visit. Since I switched primary care and even we going to urologist, I have not had but one digital prostate exam (only after specifically requesting. Have had a deny bladder tumor removed about a month ago and still having pain during urination. Shouldn't I have had a digital prostate exam at some point during this malady?