Vaginal dryness

acsvol
acsvol Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
This is a topic you don't just talk to anyone about over tea so I am typing it. I am now in menopause and have such vaginal dryness that sex is very painful and Pap tests are difficult. My closest survivor friend has the same problem but worse. Has to have several days of Replens just to have an internal exam. No sex at all for her. I asked my doctor if chemo and Tamoxifan cause menopausal dryness to be worse and she doesn't know so she suggested taking a survey. And I am. She says she has 2 patients who are cancer survivors that have the same problem but hadn't linked it to cancer treatment. Please give your input on the matter. Thanks

Comments

  • SusanAnne
    SusanAnne Member Posts: 245
    #2
    I most likely am in the minority. I went thru ACT treatment plus herceptin, radiation, tamoxifen, arimidex, now back on tamoxifen. I've been in menopause (13 months) and now have my period back. Through all of it I have not had any vaginal dryness issues (I'm 47). I count myself lucky!

    Susan
  • mc2001
    mc2001 Member Posts: 343
    #3
    Hello acsvol,
    Well... actually... when the guys and I get together for the football game... during half-time we discuss these issues....just kidding... ok... I just wanted to make you smile.. I know this is a bit of a closed door topic. Well, I am not a woman... but I do know that cancer chemotherapy can cause this problem. It is not uncommon. The good news is that there are ways to treat this problem. The use of topical water based gels is a common *quick-fix*. Here is a website that may help: http://patient.cancerconsultants.com/supportive_treatment.aspx?id=23166
    I would suggest contacting a doctor that specializes in sexual issues. He or she may be able to help you and your friend. Take care and God bless.
    -Michael
  • gl1959
    gl1959 Member Posts: 1
    #4
    I am experiencing the same problem but only had the chemo, not the tamoxifen. My gynecologist believes it is menopause causing the problem.
  • katepaul
    katepaul Member Posts: 2
    #5
    I was on Arimidex for 11 months and finally called the manufacturer to ask if the above was a side effect and they said Yes. Also my hands started to wrinkle and my skin got very dry. Yes they told me this too was a side effect. All my oncologist is looking for is joint pain and bone loss. Family doctor, oncologist and gynecologist suggested K-Y jelly. That was like using water--no relief. I am 69 years old and am convinced that the doctors really are not aware of arimidex's side effects in a person my age.
  • AuthorUnknown
    AuthorUnknown Member Posts: 1,537 Member
    #6
    katepaul said:

    I was on Arimidex for 11 months and finally called the manufacturer to ask if the above was a side effect and they said Yes. Also my hands started to wrinkle and my skin got very dry. Yes they told me this too was a side effect. All my oncologist is looking for is joint pain and bone loss. Family doctor, oncologist and gynecologist suggested K-Y jelly. That was like using water--no relief. I am 69 years old and am convinced that the doctors really are not aware of arimidex's side effects in a person my age.

    I am on Arimidex--have been since December-experienced vaginal dryness and painful intercourse. Since I can't use any estrogen creams the oncologist told me to use Replens. I think I have solved my problem. I take a super tampax--push the cotton out of the container a bit--slather the end with Replens and put it in--I did this for a day or two. It takes a bit of planning, but it seeems to be working. I, too, am experiencing dryness--dry eyes, dry hair, dry skin. I told the dermatologist about my vaginal dryness solution. She applauded my creativity!!
  • scdragonfly
    scdragonfly Member Posts: 4
    edited January 2018 #7
    Alternative with great results

    Successful clinical trial results from DHEA.Full study here : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26731686

    COMMENTS

     

     

    Based on a woman’s blog I belong to, the women really liked the suppository over the creams for ease of use. The only one I found that didn’t contain preservatives or glycerin was DHEA Cubes by Bezwecken which I order online. 12 cubes for about $1.75 each. Some women found a more economical approach which was to purchase 10 mg DHEA capsules, pour about half of powder onto a suppository, and reshape it so powder in buried into suppository - about $.40 each.

    Clinic trial highlights

    RESULTS:

    At gynecological evaluation, vaginal secretions, epithelial integrity, epithelial surface thickness, and color all improved by 86% to 121% over the placebo effect (P < 0.0001 for all comparisons with placebo). Serum steroid levels remained well within the normal postmenopausal values according to the involved mechanisms of intracrinology.

    CONCLUSIONS:

    The daily intravaginal administration of 0.50% (6.5 mg) DHEA (Prasterone) has shown clinically and highly statistically significant effects ….. The strictly local action of Prasterone is in line with the absence of significant drug-related adverse events, thus showing the high benefit-to-risk ratio of this treatment based upon the novel understanding of the physiology of sex steroids in women.

     

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