Advice, please, re bleeding.

[Grace]

The worse thing for me about having breast cancer is that now when anything else happens that I would have taken lightly I think "cancer." I hope a day will come when I can stop doing this.

Anyway, yesterday, I had bleeding after urinating, noticeable bleeding, and immediately thought bladder or kidney cancer. I took some Uristat last night and it seems to be better--no bleeding and just a little burning, so it probably is a urinary tract infection (UTI) although the symptoms seem somewhat different from past incidences of UTI--less severe. Has anyone out there had this problem; I'm still on herceptin but nothing else at the moment other than normal drugs: high blood pressure, thyroid, reflux, and one baby aspirin. Thanks.

[suzan w]

Hi Grace! It does sound like a UTI to me...but I'm not a doctor so you should probably at least make a phone call!!! I had a little bleeding when I first started Herceptin and Arimidex but it did not last long and it was a listed side effect. I sure do know what you mean about worrying about every little thing...having cancer sure has stolen away my innocence! Hope everything is OK!!!

[Becky]

Welcome to my world. It has not been as bad after Herceptin therapy was over but it is a matter of course for some of us (especially if pre or perimenopausal before chemo) as rapid decline of estrogen is the main cause of UTIs.


I have had bleeding with (practically) no other symptoms. You should see your PCP (primary care) for some Cipro or Augmentin as it will only get worse. I took Macrobid 100 as a preventative as I had 5 UTIs within 7 months.

Although uncomfortable, it is a UTI, needs antibiotics but is NOT cancer or a recurrence.

I hope this helps.

[Caroline UK]

Hi Grace,

I know what you mean - I've had a cough and tender ribs and tried to stay logical about it, but didn't always manage it. (Chest x-ray put my mind at rest last week). I was diagnosed a year ago, like you, and I hope that gradually we'll be able to think more calmly and rationally about our aches and pains.

About the bleeding, I'm sure you're going to get it checked out by your doctor, and as it burns a little it does sound like a UTI. But another thought I had was that I was wondering if the aspirin might be thinning your blood a bit excessively at the moment. As you're on high blood pressure medication, I'm guessing you probably take the aspirin to reduce the risk of stroke/cardiac problems?
Let us know how you get on. I'm also guessing you've heard of drinking cranberry juice to help fight UTI's.
Best wishes

[Grace]

This is a wonderful board for seeking, and getting, reassurance. My GYN just returned my call and is prescribing Cipro just in case it's a UTI, which I think it is from what you have all written, but I also have an appointment next week. In October, I had my last pap and a vaginal sonogram and all was fine, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is, indeed, my old nemesis. I used to get these so often when I was young that I knew immediately when one was starting. But it's been at least fifteen years since my last. Thanks again.

[Grace]

Caroline,

About your cough and tender ribs. I a very bad cough last week--caught some type of virus from my sister which manifested itself in a very bad cough. I had to hold my ribs together before every cough it hurt so much. I saw my oncologist last week and he wasn't concerned; I took two of my husband's pills for inflamation and the pain is gone. I still have the herceptin cough--have had it since the beginning, but I know now that the pain in the ribs was not mets or broken ribs because of radiation. Naturally, I thought of the worse before the best. So, it probably is just sore ribs. Perhaps if you have some type of anti-inflamatory medication at home, you might try that to see if there's an improvement.

And, ironically, I have been taking cranberry juice for weeks now, even before this infection, as my cardiologist suggested it for my heart. She also suggested flaxseed, which I had already been taking--lots of it every day, for HER2.

[hutchibk]

Hi Grace - glad you are getting the cipro. I had the recurring UTI's each time after adding Taxol to my Herceptin. I got 3-4 of them each time. It was enough to make me want to pull my hair out... but it was already falling out, so I could. LOL. Eventually my doc prescribed Estrace cream, too, (vaginal 1% estrogen cream) to use 3-5 days a week, and it helped clear them up for good, by adding just enough estrogen to make the UT and vaginal tissues happy. He told me that it is not enough estrogen to have a detrimental systemic effect.

[msleslie]

I'm so happy to find this thread. I just completed chemo#2 & on weekly herceptin. Now, I think the infamous UTI that I had with chemo#1 has returned. I will be contacting my doctor tomorrow. I really hope this doesn't occur with each treatment.

[caya]

Ah yes, the dreaded UTIs - I was always prone to them, and as others have stated, the loss of estrogen made it worse. Like Becky, I took Macrobid 100 mg./day as a preventative. I literally would finish a course of Cipro, be off it for about 10 days, and then have another UTI.

You can try using 100% organic virgin coconut oil - put some on your fingers and insert it - it is very soothing, totally natural, and you may find it helpful.

all the best
caya

[Lien]

Ah, UTI's. The advice given is good. I have to add one thing, however. The antibiotics can cause yeast infections, which can present with similar symptoms to bacterial UTI's. So if the infection doesn't seem to clear up, try Diflucan and see if that will clear it up. It worked like a charm for me.

Love

Jacqueline