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I have been on herceptin for 18 months.
The first 5 months I had herceptin in combo with carboplatinum and taxol. I experienced recurrent UTIs (4 of them) in that 5 month time span.
Then 6 months of herceptin by itself. I experienced no UTIs at all.
The last 7 months have been herceptin in combo with taxol only. I experienced one UTI a month for the first 5 months.
My Onc suspected that it was a combination of lack of estrogen, and a less than happy pH level due to the harshness of the chemo. He had put me on Estrace 2-3 times a week a long time ago, but with the UTIs he suggested me using it 4-5 times a week and making sure that I stay extra hydrated - lots of H2O. He also suggested that I see a urologist just to be sure and the urologist agreed wholeheartedly with my Onc's assessment. It has worked like a charm and I have had no more UTIs since the end of November.
Hope this helps. I honestly don't think it is the herceptin as much as it is
that we have no estrogen to help keep the urinary tract tissues as supple and healthy as they need to be and that in turn can affect the pH levels, which in turn can give the ugly bacteria a leg up to start wreaking havoc.
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