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arimidex and vaginal atrophy

BCSurvivor_in_TX
BCSurvivor_in_TX CSN Member Posts: 1
in Breast Cancer #1

Hi everyone,

I am about 2 years out from my triple positive breast cancer diagnosis. I have completed chemo (6 round THCP), a lumpectomy and radiation and have been on arimidix for a little over a year.  I am having terrible vaginal problems and my husband am I have not been able to have sex in two years.  My gynocologist says I have vaginal atrophy which is normal post-menopause and suggested I use uberlube which does nothing for the pain.  I recently found some vitamin E suppositories which help a lot with the dryness but I still have a ton of pelvic pain - when I try and have sex or use the dialator that was reocmmended to me especially.  My oncologist sent me for a pelvic ultrasound the other day because of the pain and I was screaming in some of the worst pain of my life the whole time when they put that wand in me, and I have a history of endometriosis so I have been used to coping with some degree to pelvic pain but this is through the roof painful that is completely unbearable. Given I am 100% ER/100% PR positive hormonal treatments are not a great idea.  Is anyone having similar problems and if so, have you found anything that helps?  My cancer center has been incredible in helping me treat other treatment-related problems like my cording from surgery and frozen shoulder from radiation, but they don't seem to have anything to offer on this front.  My husband and I had only married about a year before my diagnosis and we are in our early 50s and I would really like to find a way to be able to have sex with him.  He has been very patient and loving about the whole thing (and I know how lucky I am about that) but I feel a great sense of loss about the idea that our sex life is over. It took me so long to find him and I don't want to subject him to being a married man with a life of celibacy and I don't want that for myself either.

Thanks for anything you can share to help.

 

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Comments

  • Jade941
    Jade941 CSN Member Posts: 3 Member
    edited November 2020 #2
    Hi,  

    Hi,  

    I don't have a suggestion for you but I am using an app to talk to other women (BC Healthline) and I think I saw othet women discussing this topic with suggestions.  Perhaps you can download the app and post your question here.  

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  • Phoebesnow
    Phoebesnow CSN Member Posts: 600 Member
    edited November 2020 #3
    Atrophy

    hi,  I had anal cancer and due to radiation damage I have vaginal atrophy.  We used dilators of different sizes to gradually stretch it out.  You can purchase online.

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  • Phoebesnow
    Phoebesnow CSN Member Posts: 600 Member
    edited November 2020 #4
    Atrophy

    hi,  I had anal cancer and due to radiation damage I have vaginal atrophy.  We used dilators of different sizes to gradually stretch it out.  You can purchase online.

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  • yetti
    yetti CSN Member Posts: 82 Member
    edited December 2020 #5
    Painful sex

    Painful sex due to vaginal atrophy. I attended a pelvic floor therapy Seminar,  You could check if your insurance would pay for it. The therapist. Could possibly help you. !  

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  • Primavera
    Primavera CSN Member Posts: 231 Member
    edited December 2020 #6
    I had uterine cancer

    before my breast cancer. If you go to the uterine cancer section, there will be a lot of wonderful women who who will help you with this.

    There is a set of dilators you can buy and use them slowly to make sure your vagina gets better. I had brachytherapy, so I had to buy a set. They advise to use organic coconut oil with it, or you could use any other lubricant. It's a bit of a pain, but we all had to do it over there.

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  • Edamame_Ice
    Edamame_Ice CSN Member Posts: 1
    edited December 2020 #7
    Have you asked your doctor

    Have you asked your doctor about Intra Rosa? It is a DHEA product (hormonal!) But my oncologist was willing to write the RX.  

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