What is the success rate of BCG treatment for bladder cancer?

This method of treatment is considered a form of immunotherapy, which is an emerging form of cancer treatment. The success rate for BCG treatment for bladder cancer is about 90%, which is considered the best life-saving rate by any treatment.

Can BCG treatment damage the bladder?

The most common complications associated with BCG treatment are relatively minor. They include urinary frequency, cystitis, fever, and hematuria. Although serious complications are rare, patients can develop severe, life-threatening sepsis with disseminated mycobacterial infection.

Who manufactures BCG for bladder cancer?

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, otherwise known as BCG, is a standard treatment option for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Merck & Company is the only maker and supplier of BCG to the United States.

What are the long-term effects of BCG treatment for bladder cancer?

Commonly reported side effects of bcg include: urinary tract infection, detrusor hyperreflexia of bladder, fever, hematuria, urinary frequency, urinary urgency, vomiting, chills, and malaise. Other side effects include: arthralgia. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.

Can bladder cancer return after BCG?

The standard of care for patients with high-grade (HG) non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) remains intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) following transurethral resection. Unfortunately, up to 75% will develop tumor recurrence and 20% will progress within 5 years despite intravesical therapy.

How long does BCG last in bladder?

BCG can remain in urine for 6 hours after your treatment, so each time you urinate, you should bleach the toilet in your home to neutralize the vaccine.

Does BCG treatment affect the kidneys?

Local and systemic infection following intravesical BCG is widely reported as compared to immune mediated local or systemic hypersensitivity reactions involving kidneys; acute kidney injury (AKI) and other renal manifestations are well reported but not of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Is there a shortage of BCG for bladder cancer?

Experts say that shortages of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), the treatment of choice for treating high-risk nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), will not be ending any time soon, meaning clinicians need to understand and adhere to new guidelines that direct the drug to patients most in need.

Is there still a shortage of BCG for bladder cancer?

The non–muscle invasive bladder cancer treatment BCG remains in short supply, with Merck currently serving as the sole supplier of the medication in the US.

Can BCG treatment damage kidneys?

How do you prevent bladder cancer from coming back?

Flushing the bladder with the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine (Gemzar) after tumors have been removed surgically may reduce the risk of the cancer returning, according to the results of a large clinical trial.