Hi, I have had my 14th bcg today and as always peeing is extremely painful and also have blood clots coming out. Despite taking Co codamol before treatment and after the pain is quite intense, and spend rest of the day in the bathroom. A friend who also had bladder cancer told me he was taking Tramadol for the pain and said that was much better, considering I have been given the all clear I still have to have all 27 treatments . I don't really want to do this but if it stops the pain I may ask about it, has anyone else been taking Tramadol for the pain? 

Hi everyone.  I am new to this forum.  I wanted to share my experience i have had with stage 3 non invasive bladder cancer.  I was diagnosed 2 years ago aged 48, I have had numerous turbts and currently on bcg Maintenance therapy. I had 2 induction courses because the tumour came back because I didn't have any treatment for a year due to covid.  To cut a long story short I have decided I can't continue with the bcg, I am in the most excruciating pain ever, I've been prescribed tramadol and this isn't touching me I can barely pass any water and spend my days and nights filling treatment, on the loo, has anyone else felt like giving up bcg or have give it up ??? Thankyou 

Hi jojoxoxo, sorry to hear about your pain. You are not alone! It's now been 3 years since my diagnosis with non-evasive bladder cancer.  I had around 9 BCG treatments but they had to stop BCG treatment due to the excrutiating pain. In most cases this pain slowly goes over time (usually no more than 3 weeks). I have been in pain for 2 years, and it hasn't subsided. This is unique and not the norm. My Urologist has checked everything and can't find any underlying problems. I was refered to a pain specialist who tried numerous treatments but to no avail. I haven't had any BCG treatment for around a year and a half now. With my last custoscopy in January, the result was very good with the bladder lining looking very healthy and no sign of the cancer returning. But the pain continues. When I did some research I had found that this is a side effect of BCG, especially considering the high strength dose we have pumped into our bladders over a period of weeks. Unfortunately for me, pain medication did nothing. I was even put on Morphine but to no avail (and would not recomend that!). They tried various neuropathic medications like Gabapentan (a first-line medication for the treatment of neuropathic pain) and also Amitriptyline, which helped slightly for a while and then nothing. At present I'm not on any medication. What I have found helpful in all this is changing my diet. I have done loads of research on diet and cancer. I have completely changed the way I eat and what I eat. I primarily eat loads of fruit and veg and stay clear of processed foods and sugary foods. I have cut down on meat to once or twice a week max. I drink loads of water and stay clear of anything that may aggrivate my bladder. I'm pretty certain that this has helped keep the cancer at bay. I hope things improve for you.

Hi jojoxoxo, sorry to hear about your pain. You are not alone! It's now been 3 years since my diagnosis with non-evasive bladder cancer.  I had around 9 BCG treatments but they had to stop BCG treatment due to the excrutiating pain. In most cases this pain slowly goes over time (usually no more than 3 weeks). I have been in pain for 2 years, and it hasn't subsided. This is unique and not the norm. My Urologist has checked everything and can't find any underlying problems. I was refered to a pain specialist who tried numerous treatments but to no avail. I haven't had any BCG treatment for around a year and a half now. With my last custoscopy in January, the result was very good with the bladder lining looking very healthy and no sign of the cancer returning. But the pain continues. When I did some research I had found that this is a side effect of BCG, especially considering the high strength dose we have pumped into our bladders over a period of weeks. Unfortunately for me, pain medication did nothing. I was even put on Morphine but to no avail (and would not recomend that!). They tried various neuropathic medications like Gabapentan (a first-line medication for the treatment of neuropathic pain) and also Amitriptyline, which helped slightly for a while and then nothing. At present I'm not on any medication. What I have found helpful in all this is changing my diet. I have done loads of research on diet and cancer. I have completely changed the way I eat and what I eat. I primarily eat loads of fruit and veg and stay clear of processed foods and sugary foods. I have cut down on meat to once or twice a week max. I drink loads of water and stay clear of anything that may aggrivate my bladder. I'm pretty certain that this has helped keep the cancer at bay. I hope things improve for you.