1. Is BCG perfusion more effective than chemotherapy?
The purpose of bladder perfusion is to reduce and delay the recurrence and progression of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer as much as possible. BCG is currently recognized as the most effective bladder perfusion drug. For high-risk patients, its effect is significantly better than chemotherapy drug perfusion, which can better prevent recurrence and progression; for intermediate-risk patients, the effect of BCG and chemotherapy drug is comparable. Yunlin Ye, Department of Urology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University
2.Are you using dead card or attenuated? Will the foreign BCG vaccine be better than the domestic one?
At present, both domestic and foreign bladder instillation are live attenuated vaccines, and only one BCG vaccine produced by a domestic company is currently available in China, so there are not many choices for everyone. The imported BCG vaccine is still waiting for the approval, and there is no significant difference in the effect of different strains of BCG vaccine.
3.Does your department use BCG alone or in combination with interleukin? Should it be combined with chemotherapy drugs?
Use BCG infusion alone to minimize side effects.
4.Does the use of BCG vaccine increase the risk of tuberculosis?
Generally not, but BCG contamination does lead to the possibility of infection. This is especially true for patients with low resistance.
5.Should I have a PPD test before using BCG? Why?
It must be done. Strongly positive patients will have a violent immune response.
6.Is BCG treatment more expensive than chemotherapy?
The current domestic price of BCG vaccine is slightly higher than chemotherapy drug infusion.
7.Does BCG vaccine cause hematuria? How long will hematuria last?
During one year of infusion, about 30% of patients will have hematuria, and most of them can improve on their own after stopping the infusion.
8.Does BCG vaccine cause urinary urgency and pain?
During the course of infusion, about 40% of patients will experience urinary frequency and painful urination and need to suspend treatment.
9.How to evaluate the treatment effect of BCG vaccine?
Regular review of cystoscopy
10.Do I need to do blood and urine routine after BCG treatment? Do I need to do PPD test?
If there is no discomfort, routine blood and urine tests or PPD tests are not required. If there is fever, hematuria, urinary frequency and painful urination, etc. when TB infection is suspected, these tests should be done to clarify the diagnosis.
11.Does BCG infusion affect sexual function?
Compared with chemotherapy drug infusion, there is no difference at present.