Intravesical BCG is a medical procedure performed to treat bladder tuberculosis, and more often, bladder cancer. It is adopted for the treatment of a specific type of bladder cancer known as Carcinoma.....
Intravesical BCG is a medical procedure performed to treat bladder tuberculosis, and more often, bladder cancer. It is adopted for the treatment of a specific type of bladder cancer known as Carcinoma (cancer in the skin or tissue of any organ).
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Steps to take before Intravesical BCG
Inform the doctor if you have a low immunity, allergic reactions, any past infection in the bladder, or any present infection in the body. You will not be allowed to drink any fluid for 4-6 hours before treatment. Our doctors at Medanta will prepare you thoroughly for the surgery.
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What happens during Intravesical BCG?
Under the procedure, the medicine reaches your bladder through a catheter (tube). The vaccine is inserted through the catheter to kill the tumour cells. BCG is directly fitted into the bladder (using catheter), and the remaining job is done by the body's own immunity, under this form of treatment.
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After Intravesical BCG
You will be allowed to go home after a few hours, post treatment. Let your nurse know when you are going to pass urine into the toilet, as the liquid has to be bleached and then flushed. Your doctor will give you a few medications to relieve the side-effects of this procedure.
Intravesical administration of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), has become a mainstay to treat bladder cancer, but it has a few risks associated with it.
The advantages of Intravesical BCG treatment are:
- The surgery is minimally invasive.
- The drug used in this procedure does not have any major effect on other parts of the body.
- Reduced chance of infection.
- The vaccine also boosts your immune system to fight cancer cells.
The risks associated with Intravesical BCG treatment are:
Bladder irritation, fever, increased urination, blood in urine, bone pain, rashes, ureteral obstruction, bladder contraction, and renal abscesses.
One of the major limitations of this procedure is that it does not treat any cancerous cell outside of bladder lining, or the ones grown deeply into the bladder. The drugs put into the bladder cannot reach cancerous cells in other organs, such as kidneys, ureters, and urethra, which may be affected by cancer.
