Safe use of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunotherapy for bladder cancer during breastfeeding: a case
Erol Barbur1, Tunkut Doganca2, Can Obek3
1Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
It is unknown whether intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is excreted in human breast milk. The US FDA advocates ceasing nursing due to potential adverse reactions. A lactating woman with bladder cancer who elected to receive intravesical immunotherapy with BCG and denied having ceased nursing her newborn is reported. A 42-year-old woman presented with macroscopic hematuria in the 36th week of her pregnancy. Imaging revealed a mass in the bladder. Cystoscopy and resection were performed after childbirth. Pathological examination revealed pT1 urothelial carcinoma. After a thorough discussion of the treatment options, the patient elected intravesical BCG. The infant received intradermal BCG vaccination 2 weeks before the treatment. As a result, the patient could breastfeed without any inadvertent sequela on herself or the baby.
It is unknown whether intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is excreted in human breast milk. The US FDA advocates ceasing nursing due to potential adverse reactions. A lactating woman with bladder cancer who elected to receive intravesical immunotherapy with BCG and denied having ceased nursing her newborn is reported. A 42-year-old woman presented with macroscopic hematuria in the 36th week of her pregnancy. Imaging revealed a mass in the bladder. Cystoscopy and resection were performed after childbirth. Pathological examination revealed pT1 urothelial carcinoma. After a thorough discussion of the treatment options, the patient elected intravesical BCG. The infant received intradermal BCG vaccination 2 weeks before the treatment. As a result, the patient could breastfeed without any inadvertent sequela on herself or the baby.
