1. < Breast Cancer

Anastrozole and bladder pain

Posted by virginiae @virginiae, Feb 28, 2020

I have been on Anastrozole for 3 years and bladder pain has become my top issue. Feels like a UTI, but when I have my PCP test my urine there is no UTI. Went to a urogyn who said this is a result of the tissues thinning from lack of estrogen. With approval from my oncologist and urogyn, I use a small amount of estrogen cream vaginally 2x week, and the urogyn prescribed another medicine for pain flareups. I've been able to get by this way for a time, but it's been getting worse and harder to control the flareups. Next week I'm going back to the urogyn so she can look inside my bladder and make sure there's no cancer. Assuming there isn't (fingers crossed), if I cannot control the pain it's going to be a deal breaker for me and I will stop the anastrozole. I have been managing through the joint pain and other side effects, but it's very hard to function with bladder pain and I have to be able to support myself for a little longer. Anyone else struggling with this? Thanks...

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ghanneken10 | @ghanneken10 | Oct 28, 2022
In reply to @virginiae "Went back to the Urogyn today for a cystoscopy (where they look inside your bladder). The..." + (show)
@virginiae

Went back to the Urogyn today for a cystoscopy (where they look inside your bladder). The good news, no cancer. The not so good news, it is very inflamed (I saw it on the screen) and she officially diagnosed Interstitial Cystitis. Once my Oncologist gets the result I can get her assessment and ask about other AIs. Since it is right now under control, I will continue what I've been doing and look at other dietary changes I can make that might help. In 3 weeks the Urogyn will relook at bladder function (which won't require a cystoscopy). If another major flareup happens, there is Elmiron, a drug for IC. So that's something that could be tried if I reach that point. Maybe I will or won't. At least I have some next steps - sometimes that's all you need to power through another week or month. All the best.

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I was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis before I was diagnosed with HR positive breast cancer. With my oncologist approval I have been using a dab of estrogen cream on the urethra opening and it was helping a lot. I also take mybetriq daily for over active bladder. All was well for the last 8 years. I’ve been on anatrozole for about 8 months. I recently had a UTI but that has cleared up but I’m still having painful urination but no other IC symptoms so I don’t think that’s it. The pyridium I take for the IC isn’t helping. My urologist wants me to see my gyn. I see her on Nov 7. Hopefully she finds out what’s going on. I’m so afraid it’s bladder cancer.

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2 replies
Tenaya_Lake | @tenayalake86 | Oct 29, 2022
In reply to @ghanneken10 "I was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis before I was diagnosed with HR positive breast cancer. With..." + (show)
@ghanneken10

I was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis before I was diagnosed with HR positive breast cancer. With my oncologist approval I have been using a dab of estrogen cream on the urethra opening and it was helping a lot. I also take mybetriq daily for over active bladder. All was well for the last 8 years. I’ve been on anatrozole for about 8 months. I recently had a UTI but that has cleared up but I’m still having painful urination but no other IC symptoms so I don’t think that’s it. The pyridium I take for the IC isn’t helping. My urologist wants me to see my gyn. I see her on Nov 7. Hopefully she finds out what’s going on. I’m so afraid it’s bladder cancer.

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I have been on anastrozole for 2 months. I don't like the side effects. I'm thinking about quitting but I want to wait until I can get into the oncologist in 6 weeks. I can't offer any advice other than to try to think positive about your bladder issues, and see what your urologist thinks. Good luck to you.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 30, 2022
In reply to @ghanneken10 "I was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis before I was diagnosed with HR positive breast cancer. With..." + (show)
@ghanneken10

I was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis before I was diagnosed with HR positive breast cancer. With my oncologist approval I have been using a dab of estrogen cream on the urethra opening and it was helping a lot. I also take mybetriq daily for over active bladder. All was well for the last 8 years. I’ve been on anatrozole for about 8 months. I recently had a UTI but that has cleared up but I’m still having painful urination but no other IC symptoms so I don’t think that’s it. The pyridium I take for the IC isn’t helping. My urologist wants me to see my gyn. I see her on Nov 7. Hopefully she finds out what’s going on. I’m so afraid it’s bladder cancer.

Jump to this post

Welcome, @ghanneken10. Just wanted to let you know that I hear your worry. Getting any symptoms out of the ordinary makes one leap to the worst case scenario. You did all the right things, so now it's the hardest part - waiting another week for your appointment.

Has it been confirmed that the UTI is gone?

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1 reply
ghanneken10 | @ghanneken10 | Oct 30, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "Welcome, @ghanneken10. Just wanted to let you know that I hear your worry. Getting any symptoms..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Welcome, @ghanneken10. Just wanted to let you know that I hear your worry. Getting any symptoms out of the ordinary makes one leap to the worst case scenario. You did all the right things, so now it's the hardest part - waiting another week for your appointment.

Has it been confirmed that the UTI is gone?

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Yes they have cultured it. So yep it’s gone.

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susanisabel | @susanisabel | Apr 30, 2023

Your comments have been so helpful!
I have been on anastrozole for 2 years following lumpectomy, chemo & radiation in 2021.
I was feeling ok other than mild side effects up until the last month. I suddenly developed painful uti's ( or at least, I thought it was ), and have been on antibiotics almost non stop trying to stop the pain and discomfort. Last week I started seeing blood in my urine and immediately went to the emergency dept. They did a CT scan and determined that there was no tumor on my bladder and kidneys were fine. I am trying to get into see a urologist, but, it might take months and the pain is debilitating. I am going to check with my oncologist tomorrow to see if I can use the vaginal cream and that might tide me over until I can get to see the urologist.
Thank you so much for your advice!! Susan

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lakegirl99 | @lakegirl99 | May 1, 2023

My primary care doctor told me that the pain in my bladder and urethra were because the absence of estrogen causes the lining of those organs to thin and bacteria can easily get in..It took a couple of months after quitting AI meds for these symptoms to go away but they did!

REPLY
1 reply
cautiousoptimism | @cautiousoptimism | May 1, 2023
In reply to @lakegirl99 "My primary care doctor told me that the pain in my bladder and urethra were because..." + (show)
@lakegirl99

My primary care doctor told me that the pain in my bladder and urethra were because the absence of estrogen causes the lining of those organs to thin and bacteria can easily get in..It took a couple of months after quitting AI meds for these symptoms to go away but they did!

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I dealt with those symptoms by faithfully taking a probiotic, like Fortify, that lists women's vaginal health on the label. When I quit taking it, the pain would return. UTI test results were always negative. Worked for me!

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susanisabel | @susanisabel | May 2, 2023

Thanks so much for your help.
I will try the probiotic and hoping that will help.
Lakegirl.. when you say quitting AI meds do you mean the anastrozole?

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gshoemaker | @gshoemaker | Jun 28, 2023

Hi, everyone. Has anyone had UTI symptoms including some pink blood on wipe? Is there any other reason for light blood after peeing other than with a UTI or bladder cancer? My last UTI proved to be negative but the antibiotic made all the symptoms cease. I tend to get the feeling of a full blown UTI every two months since I have been on Arimidex. Thanks.

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gshoemaker | @gshoemaker | Jun 28, 2023
In reply to @virginiae "Went back to the Urogyn today for a cystoscopy (where they look inside your bladder). The..." + (show)
@virginiae

Went back to the Urogyn today for a cystoscopy (where they look inside your bladder). The good news, no cancer. The not so good news, it is very inflamed (I saw it on the screen) and she officially diagnosed Interstitial Cystitis. Once my Oncologist gets the result I can get her assessment and ask about other AIs. Since it is right now under control, I will continue what I've been doing and look at other dietary changes I can make that might help. In 3 weeks the Urogyn will relook at bladder function (which won't require a cystoscopy). If another major flareup happens, there is Elmiron, a drug for IC. So that's something that could be tried if I reach that point. Maybe I will or won't. At least I have some next steps - sometimes that's all you need to power through another week or month. All the best.

Jump to this post

Did your interstitial cystitis cause symptoms like blood showing up in urine, which caused you to think you had a UTI? What sent you to the urologist for a cystoscopy?

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