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From a friend who also had BC and was ER+/PR+/her2-, I learned about the Estring. The Estring is a small rubber or plastic ring that is inserted vaginally and delivers very small doses of estrogen to address the problem of being as dry as the Sahara. It works and my onc approves.
Coincidentally, I mentioned to my gyn that the Estring was also improving my incontinence problem. She referred me to a urologist who tested my output of urine and discovered that due to a sagging bladder, it did not empty completely and that was also contributing to my continuous urinary tract infections that started back in 2002 when I had AC. The Estring, even though pliable, was helping to prop up the bladder so it could empty better.
To make a long story short, the urologist and gyn gave me a pessary (a larger ring that is less pliable to insert - you can view them online by Googling pessary) and an estrogen cream to apply every 3 days (also approved by my onc). I remove the pessary and reinsert with the cream on it about once a week which seems to be enough. As a result, the dryness problem is pretty much history and the incontinence is resolving itself. Have not had a UTI for several months (knock on wood)!!!
BTW, I have been on wkly Navelbine continually for almost a year along with wkly Herceptin so the dryness would have definitely been an ongoing issue.
Hope this isn't too much info – I had a hysterectomy in 2001 with ovaries also removed, I am turning 60 this year - and libido is doing OK.
Hope this helps.
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