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Early menopause and vaginal atrophy after breast cancer- can anyone help?

Posted , 10 users are following.

amelia_38073
amelia_38073

I was diagnosed and went through treatment for  breast cancer at 44. I have just turned 50 and amongst all kinds of other health issues, am having a very difficult menopause and now what appears to be atrophic vaginitus I had my last period 4 months ago and also stopped seeing my sexual  partner of 5 years at the same time.. . I thad sex with a new partner this week and immediately was in terrible pain,redness, swelling , tearing,  due to dryness. I also got a case of instant cystitus.  So embarrassing for me and i don't think i will be seeing him again. I really don't want this to be the end of my sex life. i have just turned 50 and may live till i'm 90. My GP and the hospital just say there is nothing they can do as they can't offer me HRT. There must be something!!! Where can i go for proper help and what can i do to relieve the sypmptoms and also get properly checked out? I've made an appointment with a GUM clinic as my Gp doesn't even examine me. Please all help will be appreciated.

3 likes, 47 replies

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  • gracieaz
    gracieaz amelia_38073

    Posted

    I have the exact same issue.. I'm not in the UK, but the doctors here in the states do the same thing.  I had bc at age 38, hysterectomy at age 40, and just turned 50.  It is bad.. very bad and I'm scheduled to see another gyno in two weeks.  I can't even function without lots of tylenol and it's ruined my life.  Surely there must be something they can do...  I have severe swelling, irritation, and pain.
  • k66378
    k66378 amelia_38073

    Posted

    I am a breast cancer survivor in the US and I have struggled with vaginal atrophy since I went into early menopause from chemo at 44.  My husband's and I haven't had sex for 3 years, basically since I was diagnosed.  My cancer was 90% estrogen positive, so my doctors have refused to give me estrogen.  It's not just that the sex is painful; it's that literally, he can't enter.  I also have no libido.   It is very frustrating and sad.  I have tried Replens and dialators, but nothing seems to work.  I have asked my husband if we should lovingly divorce.  He doesn't want to & we have children not yet grown.  I don't know what to do, but I keep pursuing the issue with my drs.  It has even challenged my views of marriage.  Should people just not marry for life?  Or should they divorce when the woman enters menopause?  (Fortunately, many women don't have this problem & can use otc lubrication and do fine.)  Or are our expectations of lifetime sex just unrealistic?  None of my friends have even entered menopause yet and my mum passed years ago, so I've no one to talk to about this except people online and my drs.  If I could, I would go find a pregnant horse!
    • jayneejay
      jayneejay k66378

      Posted

      Hello K

      i just read your post ..

      first... congraluations your a breast cancer survivor ... 

      i bet you love your husband very much and i bet he loves you too.

      maybe it is more you feel this way as you feel like you are not as you were and obstacles of dryness are making you feel this way.. Its not all aboit sexual intercourse, intimacy can be shared without full intercourse, that may come when the closeness and intimacy is stronger .. 

      menopause in my case made me too question my attractivness and with also having vaginal aptrophy... I think for some ladies its like when men get impotence and it becomes an issue, it can take over and then the worry of it tells our brain not to go there and we shut off and then avoid when we shouldnt .. 

      I too havent taken HRT .. but i have and do use Ovestin Estriol vaginal Ovules on occassion, for the dryness .. I also use premeno duo ovules non hormonal which i also like very much ..

      i find that not only is the internal dryness an issue, but the external too especially the vaginal entrance and this should be moisturised too regulary .. With a little estriol cream ..

      Estriol is the kindest and weakest of estrogens but maybe not a choice for you.. I do not like using it and only use half and ovule twice a week .and premeno duo ovules other times .. 

      Dont let this take over K, lots of hugs, and snuggles with your husband and intimacy can be all the other things with out intercourse.

      hope this makes sense in some way its a hard one to explain in words ..

      chin up K, big hugs.. If you dont want menopause to beat you and my goodness you have beaten breast cancer then try little ways of showing your love and intimacy, it may get the engine rolling and then all may be great again in time..

      jay xx 

       

    • jayneejay
      jayneejay

      Posted

      K

      i forgot to ask, do you take any supplements ? 

      Vit E 400iu daily by mouth 

      Maca 5.1 ( 2500mg) capsule by mouth 

      etc 

      also homeopathic help like Sepia etc.. Is this an option for you 

      jay xx

       

    • k66378
      k66378 jayneejay

      Posted

      Thank you jayneejay for such a sweet post.  Really, I was touched.

      As far as supplements, I do take extra D and my dr wants me to increase it a little bit more, so I'll be taking 2400 IU for the next few months to see how that goes.  Apparently there is some research that it can be preventative for cancer and it won't hurt me to take extra, so I will.  As far as other things, I haven't taken many other supplements.  When I read through this blog yesterday, I saw your comments about seeing a naturopathic dr.  That's something I hadn't thought of and I think I will look into that.  As far as the cuddling and stuff with my husband, yes, it's nice, but he really wants intercourse.  I think my onc will say estroil is estrogen, though.  Otherwise, I'm sure it would have been offered since I've been bugging them for the last 3 years....

      I haven't given up yet, and I'm not really the giving up type, but vaginal atrophy is an issue that was never even mentioned with cancer side effects and never something I ever thought I'd have to deal with on this level.  Thanks for your kind words jayneejay.

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