Estrace cream vs Estring vs Vagifem?

[Cristina19]

Greetings Ladies,

I'm new to this problem after 6 rounds of chemo and, now, Tamoxifen; but, frankly, I'm surprised at how quickly dryness and atrophy set in. I've got to find a solution because, at 38--dammit--I'm not going to not have sex!

I came across these sites below, though I can't endorse them because I am also at the beginning of this research and I'm still looking for answers:

http://www.womentowomen.com/menopaus...aldryness.aspx

and

http://www.womentowomen.com/menopaus...aldryness.aspx


I also have some comments/questions:

1. I like that they suggest a lubricant in the sites above that doesn't have petrochemicals; though the Astroglide that they mention contains propylene glycol.

2. I agree that this is probably a problem that goes beyond "lubrication." Before cancer, my gynecologist had suggested olive oil as a great lubricant that is "the right pH." My new gynecologist at the cancer center encouraged me to use it or lose it (MY words, NOT his!) in order to keep the atrophy from worsening. But, it's a little hard to use it when it hurts!!!

3. Why did one of you mention in a post above that Tamoxifen was implicated in promoting Her2 positivity??? Yikes. I'm supposed to be on Tamoxifen for 5 years. What should I be worried about?

4. Can phytoestrogens improve the vaginal dryness issue? How about if something containing large quantities of phytoestrogens is applied topically? I know it may sound crazy, but would soy yogurt help??? (cf. yogurt sometimes applied to resolve yeast problems).


Thanks for all your ideas!

[AlaskaAngel]

You can google "tamoxifen" and "AIB1" and see what you think. Some HER2's here have chosen to be on tamoxifen, but I am not entirely sure what the documentation is for that.

AlaskaAngel