BCG and Tuberculosis??

I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Bladder Cancer in April 2018, I was 43 years old. Since then, I have had 4 quarterly cystoscopies. The initial one was to remove the singular mass in my bladder. The 3rd was to remove a smaller lesion that had recurred. But this 4th one... oh boy it came back with a vengeance! I had 3 lesions total, all larger than my original one. So it was decided on a TURBT with treatment to follow.

Learning about BCG containing tuberculosis

When I asked about BCG or Chemo, I was told that I could have the BCG but there was a national shortage so they would likely just go straight to chemo. I asked what the difference was between BCG and Chemo and this triggered a response I wasn't expecting.

I was told that BCG contained live Tuberculosis (TB) and what that does is allow my body to attack the TB and also the cancer. Well, Houston, we have a problem here!!!

My prior medical history and Tuberculosis

Many decades ago, when I was about 20 years old, I had a typical TB test which came back positive for exposure. I was told that I needed to take this one medicine every day for a year and it would put it into "inactive" status. I did, so and never thought about it again. They told me that I should never have another TB test again the rest of my life or it will put me into "Active status".

Here is the concern.... by accepting BCG, that will put live TB into my system and activate my status. I mentioned this to my surgeon's nurse, who told me out right that I cannot have BCG and my only other option would be to start chemo.

Why I tell my story

I tell my story because others may not know about BCG having live Tuberculosis. I remember when I was first tested, the doctor telling me something like 85% of the world has been exposed and never knows about it until they get the test. They have to then be treated or it could become active and then they could suffer with the active disease.

Talk to your doctor

I'm not a medical professional, so please, if you are a candidate for BCG, talk to your doctors about it, and ask about TB before you go forward with that treatment. I haven't read anything about it and wasn't aware and could have had that treatment and never known. Who knows what could have happened!

I visit my surgeon today to go over my surgery and treatment plan. I pray for myself and for everyone battling this horrible disease. Many prayers and blessings of health and love to all of you!

Have you had BCG?