Has anybody ever heard of breast cancer recurring to the bladder/kidneys?

[KellyA]

hi there. Just wondering if anyone has ever heard of breast cancer recurring to the bladder/kidneys? Been fighting a UTI for 2+ weeks now and am on my fourth round of antibiotics. It is not unusual for me to get these (1-2 per year x 20 years), but it is unusual for the meds not to work right away. If this one doesnt work, the nasty testing begins I know that this is not a common site for recurrence, but just wondering........

[Mary Anne in TX]

Of course, I don't know, but when I had kidney issues and a spot or two showed up on scans, my onc. told me if I had a tumor in the kidney it was a new cancer. I assume that means that it doesn't, or rarely, goes there. Hope it's a silly thing that can be nipped easily and quickly. Maybe they can do the test on you that shows which antibiotics will work for you. They did it on me when I got e-coli a during treatment.
Much love, ma
p.s. You look fabulous

[Lien]

Have you been checked for a fungal infection? 25 years ago I had chronic UTI's that were treated with antibiotics, but kept coming back. Or getting worse. Until some bright doctor tested for fungi. He didn't find any, but gave me an antifungal anyway. Never had an UTI again, except for once during my first pregnancy.

You need a high dose of Diflucan to get rid of the fungus once you've had several courses of antibiotics. The good bacteria in your system keep the fungi in check, but are killed by the antibiotics.

Love

Jacqueline

PS> And no, I have never in my five years in breastcancerland heard of someone having mets to the bladder of kidney's.

[Paty]

Dear Kelly,

In my last check up, my kidneys' scan showed some sort of abcess or tiny tumor. I went to my onc and he said that some people have that and they never know about it in their entired life, because it does not cause any trouble. I told him that I was very afraid that that was metastasis to my kidney because of BC, he said that in his 30-year practice he had never seen metastasis to kidneys because of BC. Have you talked to your onc?

[Becky]

Mets to the kidneys is practically unheard of and to the bladder is rare. I wouldn't go to that dark place. Jacqueline offered good advice and I will ask you a couple of questions because, like you, I too am a UTI sufferer. More so now than when young.

I know you are not hormone positive so you are not on Tamoxifen or anything else, but you did have chemo and getting older.

Are you starting to have hot flashes or any signs of perimenopause? Did this UTI come on after sex? Perhaps starting to have alittle less estrogen is causing this problem. The bladder thins out just like the vagina. This was my big problem after I got an ooph (I am ER+ but PR neg so I wanted to take an AI instead of Tamoxifen). For me, the "Saturday Night Special" really did me in (alcohol and sex). I will say that cranberry supplements, drinking lots of water and propholatic Macrobid helped until my body adjusted to menopause (took about 2 years).

Really, Kelly, don't let this freak you out. This same thing happened to me. Got a UTI, then got a vaginal yeast infection from UTI antibiotics, then got a UTI - ping pong, ping pong.

A good gyne ended up fixing me up with the Diflucan - which did the trick. Make sure you have the urine tested for the bugs that are in there. Also, the yeast may not show up in the urine but that does not mean it is not there. Diflucan is easy to take - one pill, that's it. I needed 2 cycles. I am fine now and haven't had a UTI in over a year (a great feat for me).

Have a great Mother's Day with those little boys. Hopefully you start feeling better. (Start taking some of those special yogurt drinks - DanActive or Activa). That might help alittle.

Hugs to you.

[KellyA]

Hi guys. Thank you so much for your responses. Becky, you got it right on- except it was a Friday Night Special! (so much for date night, LOL)

Anyways, have always had this problem, but it has always responded to meds right away. So far have been on 2 rounds of Cipro, 1 of Microban, and now on Levaquin (which is supposed to be stronger). The weird thing is that the cultures are full of white cells, but no bacteria will grow on the cultures (so far, anyways- still waiting on one to come in). I will definitely ask about the Diflucan.

It is frustrating and I have been house bound and in agony for going on three weeks. My husband is sleeping in the doghouse because it is his fault after all......

Love,
Kelly

[Lien]

Been there, done that. The fact that cultures show nothing, reinforces my impression that a fungal infection is the culprit.
Have you tried high dose vitamin C? And cranberry, either in the form of juice or supplements? Fungi don't like high acidity. If you have a burning sensation, sitting in a warm bath could bring some relief.

Hang in there!

Love

Jacqueline

[caya]

Kelly, I also was prone to UTI's - a couple a year before BC, but chemo/herceptin put me into instant menopause, and for me it was a never ending cycle of UTis, anti-biotics etc. just like Becky - ping, pong for months.

I also had the Diflucan which cleared everything up, then went on prophylactic Macrobid 100 mg./day - been on this for about 5 months - no UTI's. I also use 100% organic virgin coconut oil for lubrication daily - this has also helped with vaginal atrophy, dryness, burning etc.

I am having a "cysto" tomorrow for further clarification of what is going on down there - the urologist says he will give me an answer on the spot. My onc. wanted me to have one just to be 100% sure that all this UTI stuff is definitely due to dryness etc. He is pretty sure that is all it is, but wants me to have this "cysto" to confirm it.

Do you have a sitz bath? Try sitting in it in warm water for 15 minutes 3 times/day. This should help.

all the best
caya

[KellyA]

I can't tell you how much I appreciate your replies- I am so glad I wrote in. The current med (Levaquin) is NOT working- that's #4) and I am miserable.

Put a call in to my gyn and waiting to hear (do they not know these are agony and require a call back within a few hours?!) I am very very suspicious of a fungal inf. and want to try the diflucan. It is hard not to worry about something else though... trying to be positive.

Love,
Kelly

[Karen Wheel]

I am late to this discussion - and I found it when searching for threads on "bladder" as I am worried about me ... after I started chemo and Herceptin my bladder is well, tweaked --- and then I just saw the thread from the other day on Ki67 that linked this to "bladder cancer" (along with otheres) so.... was again, a bit worried.

My oncologists are trying to get me into see a specialist for the bladder - so I'm waiting on that.

I don't have an infection (they tested - twice!) but I feel wierd and seem to use the bathroom every hour (hour and half) and it is not normal ... feels tight and like you have an infection coming on --- strange.

So, we'll see-

FOR those who are fighting bladder infections (don't blame your husbands!) ;-) Try some d-mannose - it works great and usually cures anything (that is e-colia based) .... and helps over all if taken often.

I have used it lots in the past and it always works. I was using it daily for months during chemo - and that is when this all started.

You can take it up to every 2 hours if you are having a bad attack. (I like the powder) - sending a link here to some:

http://www.vitaminlife.com/product-e...oduct_id/48331

If anyone has similar experiences with bladder issues with Chemo/or Herceptin - please let me know. thanks!
Karen

[Lien]

It could be a yeast infection as well. See if high dose vit C + cranberry extract helps.

Jacqueline (sorry, in a hurry)

[Mary Jo]

Hi Kelly,

I went through this same thing last year. It was soooooo irratating (in more ways than one) We tried everything (2 different antibiotics) and still felt "wierd" down their. Eventually Diflucan did the trick BUT I needed to use it 2 times in a row. Then about 6 months later it started feeling "wierd" again and Diflucan was ordered again and I only needed to take 1 round. Since then, I too, started taking a cranberry supplement and have been fine.

Hugs to you (hey, so nice to "see" your beautiful face here once again)

Mary Jo

[vickie h]

Hi Kelly, late getting here but I just got back from LA and my Onc has never heard of mets to kidneys or bladder. Hope you are feeling better today.