It’s right what they say BCG does become more intense with each dose. More pain when peeing (a friend says like a hive of bees inside), more frequent peeing (especially at night) and more exhaustion post dose. I’m hoping more intensity means it’s working so I’m embracing rather than resisting it and taking painkillers to reduce the bee-induced-wincing.
Patients here receive a BCG booklet produced by the manufacturer with helpful hints how we can support BCG success.
- Keep to the therapy plan and keep track of appointments.
- Observe your bodily reactions carefully and inform your doctor of anything out of the ordinary.
- Don’t smoke it’s the number one risk factor for bladder cancer.
- Support your immune system with healthy lifestyle choices. Eating healthy food and moving regularly contribute to a robust immune system.
Tip number 4 is particularly relevant and can be added to.
Cold showers
My yoga teacher swears by cold showers and pranayama (yogic breathing exercises). More on pranayama in a later post but although initially horrified by cold showers I’ve since read about it in Dr Andreas Michalsen’s book “The Nature Cure” and started gradually decreasing the temperature from as hot as I could bear to as cold as I could bear. I’m not going to join my Wim Hoff trained yoga teacher in his outdoor ice bath any day soon but I do appreciate the benefits of cold showers. I feel robuster and can imagine the white blood cells increasing.
Beta Glucan
A fellow bladder cancer friend who has graduated from BCG into remission recommended modulating the immune system with Beta Glucan supplements. Chis Wrack from Chris Beat Cancer has a good explanation of this and a short video. In a nutshell the idea is to “activate the autonomic nervous system and inhibit the response of your immune system”. Meaning the immune system is stable and doesn’t go into overdrive. I’ve taken this on board and take it daily.
What do you do to support your immune system?
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