HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Vaginal Dryness Meds May Counteract Breast Cancer Drugs

AlaskaAngel · 01-31-2006, 10:51 AM

What do I think? I think oncologists should be a LOT more honest about the likelihood of severe vaginal dryness with few options BEFORE we do therapy, rather than jumping to deny us any options afterward.

I continue to question whether a possible problem that was identified specifically with Vagifem should also be identified with other choices like the Estring, since the method of dispensing is different even if it is applied in the same location.

This is ONE recent study. Prior to this single study other studies have been done that indicate that there is no systemic effect. That is why many doctors have been willing to prescribe it. They will need to reproduce the same results in a larger study to confirm them before they are any better or even as good as the results of prior studies.

I don't know how old some of you are, or how far out from chemo you are, which can make some difference in your opinion on this. I am 3 1/4 years out from chemo and rads and over time the problem has gotten worse. I am going to be 55 soon. I have been with my partner for 30 years and if I don't use one of these therapies PLUS a ton of lubrication there is no way he can get in there. And as it is I bleed.

I brought the subject up with both my male internist and my male onc and the onc said I could use the Estring. Otherwise there was not so much as a whisper of sympathy.

In this day of modern science I find it appalling that there is such minimal honesty in dealing with this issue.

There is a phase III clinical trial now enrolling participants for a new choice that is being developed that may even help to prevent cancer... BUT... the trial is not enrolling participants with a cancer history that is not at least 10 years NED so it won't tell us whether or not we can use it safely.

I'm sure that eventually it will sell like hotcakes to those with vaginal dryness and no history of cancer, and I am sure many of us will choose to use it, given the impossible situation we are in.

Who do they think the men using all the Viagra are using it with?

AlaskaAngel

01-31-2006, 10:51 AM	#2
AlaskaAngel Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Alaska Posts: 2,018	Solutions to a real problem? What do I think? I think oncologists should be a LOT more honest about the likelihood of severe vaginal dryness with few options BEFORE we do therapy, rather than jumping to deny us any options afterward. I continue to question whether a possible problem that was identified specifically with Vagifem should also be identified with other choices like the Estring, since the method of dispensing is different even if it is applied in the same location. This is ONE recent study. Prior to this single study other studies have been done that indicate that there is no systemic effect. That is why many doctors have been willing to prescribe it. They will need to reproduce the same results in a larger study to confirm them before they are any better or even as good as the results of prior studies. I don't know how old some of you are, or how far out from chemo you are, which can make some difference in your opinion on this. I am 3 1/4 years out from chemo and rads and over time the problem has gotten worse. I am going to be 55 soon. I have been with my partner for 30 years and if I don't use one of these therapies PLUS a ton of lubrication there is no way he can get in there. And as it is I bleed. I brought the subject up with both my male internist and my male onc and the onc said I could use the Estring. Otherwise there was not so much as a whisper of sympathy. In this day of modern science I find it appalling that there is such minimal honesty in dealing with this issue. There is a phase III clinical trial now enrolling participants for a new choice that is being developed that may even help to prevent cancer... BUT... the trial is not enrolling participants with a cancer history that is not at least 10 years NED so it won't tell us whether or not we can use it safely. I'm sure that eventually it will sell like hotcakes to those with vaginal dryness and no history of cancer, and I am sure many of us will choose to use it, given the impossible situation we are in. Who do they think the men using all the Viagra are using it with? AlaskaAngel