Femara/Dryness/UTI's

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ck55
ck55 Member Posts: 346
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Hello Ladies,

I would love your opinions on something. I have been on Femara for 2 1/2 years now. Within the last 6 months the vaginal dryness has made intimacy with my husband extremely painful ( even using replens and lubricants). I talked to my onc in August and she was on the fence with the safety issue, but said my quality of life was also a consideration. Now since September I have had 4 UTI's. The first three seemed to follow one of these painful sexual encounters, but just last week I came down with another one, and there had been no sex for a while.

What I am thinking is that all this is related to the lack of estrogen (obviously) and am wondering if a low dose estrogen cream or e-string would be worth looking into. Obviously my concern is that I am stage 3, 2 nodes +, and 100% ER/PR +. Am I playing with fire if I try these treatments? There is a huge quality of life issue at stake here. I can't imagine going the rest of the life I have left (I am 55 )not being able to have a sex life and dealing with UTI's once a month!!Yell

Have any of you had both of these problems and if so, did you find a way to deal with them without hormones? I am just feeling so frustrated. I just completed breast reconstruction in Oct and was thinking maybe my life was getting back to a type of normal. when these UTI's started plaguing me. 

Any thoughts, experiences or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Cyndi

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  • Moissy
    Moissy Member Posts: 550
    edited February 2010

    Hi Cyndi,

    I was on Arimidex for 5 years. Throughout that time, I had tried several lubricants and eventually settled on replens for discomfort. Eventually developed vaginal atrophy such that my cervix completely closed and ob gyn couldn't even examine it. She suggested going on est-ring if onc would approve.  He did. Used it for 90 days only with great improvement of symptoms. I was very worried about using it, but result was good. I know the systemic absorption is low; however there IS a small amount absorbed.

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  • koshka1
    koshka1 Member Posts: 678
    edited February 2010

    Hi ladies,

    There is a post on the Hormonal Therpaies site...where a bunch of ladies..that were referred by oncologists to try Crisco.  Yes Crisco.

    I did speak to a couple of ladies that have tried thist.  Both of which suffered from pain, uti's and you name it.  They said the Crisco worked and was amazing.

    Check the post out.......

    Hugs Kosh

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  • NaomiF
    NaomiF Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2010

    Hello ladies,

    I'll have to try the Crisco. A very sweet lady at the health food store suggested Key-E suppositories for the vaginal dryness problem.They contain coconut and palm oils along with natural source vitamin E. Coconut oil in the jar works well too.

    Another way to improve natural vaginal lubrication is the use of the EROS Therapy device. They are not cheap, and most insurance does not cover them, but clinical trials have shown they improve FSD, a condition many of us who use AI drugs for breast cancer suffer.

    Hope this helps. 

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