BCG side effects

I began BCG immunotherapy for bladder cancer earlier this month.  After the first treatment, I suffered for 5 days with burning urination, frequency, flu-like alterating chills and sweats.  Is this usual, and will it get worse or better with subsequent treatments?

[Ash Tewari, MD, M.Ch.]

Buring urination frequency and urgency are common symptoms and should resolve within a few days. However fever lasting for maore than a couple of days , joint pain,malaise , fatigue and rash are signs of systemic infection with tuberculosis and warrant immediate treatment.


This answer is not intended and does not substitute for medical advice- the information is for patient education only.