Vagifem for er+?

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caaclark
caaclark Member Posts: 936
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

Hi All-

I am 7 1/2 years out from diagnosis.  After active treatment ended I chose to have ovaries removed because my cancer was 95% ER+.  As anyone who has made that decision knows, sex has become quite difficult.  My med. onc. and my rad onc. (both great docs who I owe my life and sanity to) have told me that it is safe to use vagifem.  I filled the script quite a while ago but have not used it.  I'm still too scared that it will cause a recurrence.  Looking for opinions (preferably research based) that either lend support to using it or not.  Anyone out there a long term survivor who has used it?  Am I right in being afraid of using it or am I just scared for no reason?  I also take femara.  I was only 40 when diagnosed (and am now 47).  Ideally I would like to have non-painful sex at some point but I don't want to cause a recurrence (obviously)

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  • Rachel1
    Rachel1 Member Posts: 363
    edited May 2013

    So glad you posted this. I'm on arimidex and also had a hysterectomy. Sex has become extremely painful and I'm eager to hear what others have for advice.

    Rachel

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited May 2013

    Carol....my onc came me permission to use vginal estrogen creams as well as E-string.  he said the amount of estrogen in these are minimal and very little circulats beyong the vaginal area.  And please remind me what sex is!!!!!  I'm 7+ years from Dx and stopped the AI's 3 years ago.....so far I con't to be NED....but I haven't used the estring in a couple years cuz I have NO libido...my poor deprived husband.

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  • Cyborg
    Cyborg Member Posts: 848
    edited May 2013

    I started the Vagifem cause my UCLA onc said it would be ok due to all of the above mentioned.

    Another UCLA dr told my healthy friend he did not want her to use it because of risk to her of developing cancer. I just stopped. So far, astroglide w no parabens is my choice.

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  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited May 2013

    i found something new at cvs. of course cant remember name. will look up later. but has probiotics. I have used it just once.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2013

    MY gyno prescribed Vagifem and it really helps with the vaginal atrophy.  I still have to use lubricant also but without the Vagifem It's very painful and I bleed.  You may have to take a few doses before sex is more comfortable.  Still no problem in orgasm dept. but Vagifem makes penetration much easier.

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  • ck55
    ck55 Member Posts: 346
    edited May 2013

    Hi Carol. Congrats on the 7 1/2 years! I am coming up on 7 myself.

    I was having a terrible time with vaginal atrophy while on AI's. When my 5 year "term" was up last August my onc and I decided to switch me to tamoxifen (because I really didn't want to stop using some sort of anti estrogen med) and to start using Vagifem. The thinking being that because of the way tamoxifen works, if there was any increase in my systemic estrogen that the tamoxifen would block it. We also liked the recent positive data on using tamoxifen for 10 years.

    I have been very happy with the results and feel better on the tamoxifen than while I was on Femara. A lot fewer sore joints and no more sore feet!!!

    Good luck!

    Cyndi

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited May 2013

    Just putting this out there to let ya'll know there are other options.  I'm not a "long termer" and haven't used Vagifem but my onc finally said ok to another one.  I have no name, it's probably very similiar to Vagifem but she makes me get it from a compound pharmacy so the ER is measured out, is exact and is at a minimun.  She feels safer with me getting it from there and it does help, not like it use to be but better than without it.

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  • planetbananas
    planetbananas Member Posts: 206
    edited May 2013

    I fought against using vagi-fem but it got to the point that I could not have intercourse at all. Like another poster said, I still need lubricant but it made a world of difference. I am 43 and it became a quality of life issue and I am at peace with my decision.

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  • bettysgirl
    bettysgirl Member Posts: 938
    edited May 2013

    Also glad to see this subject. My gyno does not feel that the estrogen is enough to worry about and I will have to talk to the onco about it at my next visit. If it was a decision solely up to me I wouldn't worry about it because like Karen I have NO libido but to keep the peace in the house.....

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  • flatpikr
    flatpikr Member Posts: 16
    edited May 2013

    My MO also said that the estrogen-containing vaginal cream was OK to use if necessary.  I use Premarin cream, just a dab inserted by finger once a week.

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  • SelenaWolf
    SelenaWolf Member Posts: 1,724
    edited May 2013

    Just a personal observation... my PCP has, recently, put me on Cipralex (an SSRI that doesn't interfere with tamoxifen) for my mood disorder and, within six weeks, I noticed a huge improvement with regards to this.  No more discomfort.  I'm enjoying it.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited May 2013

    Hi, 

    You may also find some helpful information on these pages:

    http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/menopausal/ask_expert/2008_08/question_14

    http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/menopausal/ask_expert/2004_07/question_09

    Best, 
    The Mods

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  • Lamp
    Lamp Member Posts: 43
    edited September 2013

    Hi All

    I am 10 months from being diagnosed, I too suffer with vag athrophy, was taking vagifem prior ......need to consider it again, or something else,  but very nervous, anyone want to share their latest thoughts, please.

    thanks

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  • karen1956
    karen1956 Member Posts: 6,503
    edited September 2013

    I never tried vagifem, but my onc let me use the e-string...

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  • hrf
    hrf Member Posts: 3,225
    edited September 2013

    My gyn said it's ok to use the low dose Vagifem. It made a world of difference to me as I was in a lot of pain from the vaginal atrophy. The reason it is safe is that it thickens the vaginal walls so nothing can escape into the rest of the body. He said estrogen is more likely to escape if the vaginal wall is thin and cracked.

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  • Texas357
    Texas357 Member Posts: 1,552
    edited September 2013

    I had my hormone blood levels tested before starting Vagifem, and then immediately after the first month when the loading doses are much higher than the maintenance dosages. My hormone levels actually decreased after the first month on Vagifem so I am comfortable that it is not impacting my remission. I've been using it for more than 4 years.

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