taxol/herceptin bacterial infection

[tross]

Hello

I am new to the site so please forgive any mistakes in the posting. I am looking for help for my mom who lives in another state and doesn't have a computer.

She had a mastectomy and has stage 2 and was HER2 and Lymph Node positive. She completed 12 wks of AC and is in 8th wkly taxol/herceptin. She has taken several antibiotics for urinary tract infection and now has bacterial infection and was prescribed Citro again and Vagifem. I'm concerned about the Vagifem (because of the estrogen) and the ongoing infections as the antibiotics aren't working. Has anyone else had similiar infection probems? Are they most likely related to the taxol rather than the herceptin?

Thank you for any input.

[Lyn]

Hi there, I think a lot of the ladies can relate to the urine infections, I know I can and I believe it would be more related to the chemo drugs and not the Herceptin. I had a friend with BC and not on Herceptin and she also got them continually. I keep the antibiotic Keflex 500 in the cupboard because I have learnt the first signal of getting one, a bit of a twinge when I pass it and I head straight for the cupboard and take 2 straight off and then continue with the pack, I know what it is like to leave it and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. This antibiotic is also good for a number of different infections including Pericarditus, inflammation of the sack around the heart, I know first hand that was what they treated me with and many other ailments. I have lost count of the number of times I have had them but it is wise to get a urine sample tested in case their is anything else going on but the problem is if you start the antibiotic it interferes with the result, but in some cases you just can't wait the time to see a doc and you learn to recognise the symptoms. As to the Vagifoam, I have to use Ovastatin for a week before Pap Smears because my body doesn't have any eostrogen because of an eostrogen blocker I take Aromasin, but for a short time it isn't a problem and the infection has to be cured or the rest of the immune system suffers and it makes it harder to get well. I have had to stop my eostrogen block for this treatment to allow the cancer cells to grow so the chemo drugs can fight them off, weird and scarey but true. Hope this helps, and welcome.

Love & Hugs Lyn

[tross]

Thanks Lyn for the help and the welcome.

It helps to know there are others who have battled similiar infections while continuing the chemo. They take weekly urine samples confirming UTI but on the last visit inserted a catheter for a culture which is how they diagnosed bacterial infection.

Hope you enjoy the remainder of the weekend.

Tammy