UTI's

Hi I'm on arimidex and have not had this side effect. You need to drink lots of water and have you tried cranberry juice or tablets, this is supposed to help hope this helps, nothing worse than a uti

Thats so good to hear. I shall make a note of the name for when I am finished treatment. 

Great story and happy ending 

Airlie  ?? ?? 

Hi. Yes I have had 2 UTI'S  in under a month. And so agree with you , its another side effect. As if there arent enough. I know how you feel about antibiotics - however my GP frightened me by saying. If the infection goes back up to the kidneys and enters the blood stream, septic could occur. Our bodies are fighting as it is. Hence I take mine

I will be on my next lot of chemo. 12 weeks weekly taxol. I'm really hoping after finishing EC  I may have some relief from side effects. 

My wish is the same for you.

??  Airlie

Hi, I am 4 years post breast cancer.  After chemo and radiation I took Arimidex and other estrogen blockers too.  I was left with vaginal atrophy, constant and persistent urinary tract ifections on antibiotics all the time, incontinence etc.  It really affected my quality of life.  So, I really know how you feel.  I was constantly told "nothing we can do - learn to live with it".  Well, I couldn't accept that.  I didn't want to think I had been through all my breast cancer treatments and now I was left with this.  

I did a lot of research, read medical trials and found the Mona Laser Touch.  I won't talk about it, you will need to do your own research and talk to your own doctors.  (Bear in mind my gyno told me I was wasting my time and money).  But my GP sent me to a Professor of Gynecology who performed the procedure.  He explained the science behind it.  For me it was totally painless and as with most everyone absolutely no side effects except pleasant ones. I have just had my 2nd of 3 treatments.  It has already changed my life.  UTIs gone;  incontinence gone; lubrication back and for the first time in years able to make love to my husband without chemist full of lotions and potions and I feel I have my libido back.  For me, this has truly been life changing.  The procedure is FDA approved in USA and other parts of the world and it is avaiilable here.  If you go down this route then talk to your GP and get referal to Gyno who performs the procedure.  It is expensive though.  It cost me $800 per treatment.  But I only need 3 and perhaps 1 maintenance per year.  I believe it should have a medicare rebate.  I believe it is that good.

Other than that, my experience with the medical world for someone unable to take estrogen is "learn to live with it".  Good luck....

Hi Andi, yes you are so very right ....  Always something. I have not had a urinary tract infection. Mine....shingles! We got them early but it left me with a second infection requiring 3 nights in hospital and now two numb finders on my left hand and I may not get feeling back for 12 months.

Sorry to hear about your infection I hear you can feel very miserable and uncomfortable with it. I'm sure you hate taking tablets to help it but for now it may be necessary.

take care......we WILL get through

Anne-Marie