Articles · Blood in the urine and cancer
What is BCG treatment for bladder cancer?
BCG is a weakened germ that's put directly into the bladder through a catheter. It triggers the immune system to attack cancer cells on the bladder lining.
What BCG is
BCG is a weakened germ that's put directly into the bladder through a catheter. It triggers the immune system to attack cancer cells on the bladder lining.
Who gets it
It's used for certain non-muscle-invasive bladder cancers to lower the chance of return.
The treatment schedule
It's given weekly for six weeks, then often as maintenance.
Side effects
Burning and frequency for a day or two are common.
Next step
If you've had bladder cancer removed, schedule a visit to see if BCG fits you.
Request a visit at Advanced Urology to go over your options.
Questions to bring to your visit
- Is my bladder cancer non-muscle-invasive?
- What does the weekly schedule look like for me?
What happens at your visit with us?
BCG is given in the office through a thin catheter, and our team walks you through each step at your first treatment so nothing comes as a surprise. You will hear how long the medicine stays in the bladder, what burning or frequency can feel like afterward, and which symptoms mean you should call or go to an emergency room.
When should I call us?
Call us if burning or frequency lasts past the first couple of days after a treatment, or if you run a fever. Fever, shaking chills or being unable to urinate after BCG should go to an emergency room rather than wait for a routine callback. For milder lingering sting, call our Alpharetta / Roswell office and ask for a callback.
How do our urologists approach this?
BCG is one of several medicines Advanced Urology can place in the bladder, along with mitomycin and Valstar. Regular cystoscopy checks are part of the plan, so our urologists can see how the bladder lining is responding.
Our urologists, physician assistants and nurse practitioners see adults from Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Crabapple and Mountain Park at our Alpharetta / Roswell office.
Related video
Advanced Urology’s podcast on bladder cancer symptoms and treatments:
Related reading from our team
- What Is Upper Tract Urothelial Cancer?
- Blood in Urine From a UTI or Stone?
- Partial vs. Radical Nephrectomy
Related care: bladder cancer care at our Alpharetta / Roswell office.
Read more from Advanced Urology: BCG · Bladder cancer
For education, not medical advice. Every treatment has risks and benefits. Emergency? Call 911 or go to an emergency room.
Whenever you’re ready, our Alpharetta / Roswell team would be glad to hear from you.