Vaginal Estrogen

I have used it as needed for several years. Super beneficial!!
There is no evidence that it impacts your breast cancer.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37917089/

Safeway has 8 ounce jars of coconut oil.

I had a co-worker who went on estrogen cream of some kind, approved by her oncologist. I thought, being a survivor of similar duration, that it was a risk I wasn't willing to take. She did end up getting a recurrence a few years later. My sister was told her "hormones were off" by a naturapath & was prescribed a hormone cream; I told her BC is in the family, not a good idea. She got breast cancer within the year & was pulled off of it immediately. I just don't think it's worth the risk. "Astroglide" works well as a lubricant.

Hi
I had surgery in 2024 for a right breast cancer dcis hormone positive and then I was getting a bladder infection every other month so my oncologist suggested that I go on the vagifem and it has helped quite a bit. I just had my first bladder infection in a year I also have been taking cranberry pills by now make sure they have the Pacs and d-mannose everyday. I was going to get the all-in-one pill but I had read that it's better to take them separately so I take two cranberry pills a day and one d-mannose.

@jardinera25 There is an abundance of research literature that demonstrates that estrogen-based vaginal creams are a topical treatment and are not absorbed into the bloodstream. If you'd like me to dig up these publications from the scholarly literature I can do that. Still, it is wise to have these discussions with one's own doctors who will weigh the risks vs. benefits of vaginal estrogen use after diagnosis of estrogen-positive cancer.

Astroglide does not provide ongoing moisturizing properties for the vagina. Many people confuse these lubricants with vaginal moisturizers and these are the same thing. Astroglide and other similar products iare helpful for sexual intercourse as a lubricant but in my case my vaginal atrophy needed more than an occasional lubricant during sex. In fact, a medical provider once suggested "using more lubricant during sex" without addressing the real issue of changes in the vagina due to menopause. It was evident that this medical provider had no idea of what it meant to be in my situation and did not address the real issues. (I changed primary care providers after that conversation). I finally received excellent coaching and treatment by going to a practice that specializes in menopause.

Menopause and Women's Sexual Health Clinic at Mayo Clinic:

-- https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/menopause-womens-sexual-health/overview/ovc-20487915

I use a vaginal moisturizer on a regular basis . It contains hyaluronic acid which is a naturally occurring substance in the body. There are many types of these moisturizers that can be purchased over-the-counter.

@maymore Thank you for citing this peer-reviewed research. It's a helpful article. It's a discussion to have with one's oncologist.

Is there one you recommend? I am a breast cancer survivor.
Thanks