The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
BCG vaccine
BACILLUS CALMETTE–GUÉRIN VACCINE
A type of immunotherapy drug used to treat some bladder cancers
About BCG vaccinations
The Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine is commonly used to prevent tuberculosis. It’s also a helpful treatment for some early and non-invasive bladder cancers.
BCG is an immunotherapy drug that stimulates your body's immune system to get rid of cancer cells in your bladder. By doing so, it helps to prevent the cancer from coming back and reduces the chances of it spreading.
Need to know
BCG is an immunotherapy drug. You'll receive it through a catheter (a thin tube), which will be gently inserted into your bladder, usually by a specialist nurse. Your consultant or nurse will also explain how often you'll receive the treatment and for how long. Usually, you'll receive it once a week for six weeks, followed by a six-week break. If it's working well, you may receive more treatment.
You'll be asked to limit your fluid intake before your treatment, as this will make it easier for you to store the BCG drug in your bladder and give it time to work effectively. Your consultant or nurse will explain any other preparations you may need to take. They'll also answer any questions you may have. Like all procedures, there may be some risks and side effects involved. These may include:
- an increased need to pass urine
- pain when you pass urine
- blood in your urine
- flu-like symptoms such as general aches and an increased temperature
These effects should settle in a day or two.
The treatment can take up to three hours. You can usually go straight home after it. Your consultant will let you know when you can get back to your usual routine, including work or exercise. Your specialist nurse will explain what things you'll need to keep a close eye on after your treatment.
Our BCG vaccine locations
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
HCA Healthcare UK at University College Hospital
Grafton Way Building, 1 Grafton Way WC1E 6AG London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.