Why am I only now finding the links between Letrazole and incontinence and prolapses? Why have no clinicians mentioned this? Are there alternatives? Can any of it be reversed? When will I get taken seriously, get treatment for prolapses?
BTW, if it helps anyone, I am prescribed trospium chloride for urge incontinence and it has made an immense improvement to the condition & my wellbeing.
Hi
I really feel for you. I recently had a urethral caruncle (never heard of it and it scared the wits out of me) but it is caused by the absence of oestrogen and the breakdown of the lining of the urethra over time. Initially it was believed I had a cervical prolapse. Loathe though I am to take even more medication, I may well ask my GP about trospium chloride, though I don’t experience urge - I can barely feel anything. I am well past menopause so this kind of thing might happen naturally and, frankly, I believe the real cause is the constant straining as a result of my chemo.
Clinicians are totally focused on dealing with the cancer. You need a very empathetic one to consider long-term SEs as well. They may focus on the immediate and most common, like nausea and joint pain, but long term damage is left to GPs. If yours is anything like mine, the response is “I don’t have any experience of the side effects of chemotherapy”. Well, get some!! Letrozole may well be the trigger but the issue is the loss of hormones and any AI you take, like anastrozole as an alternative, will still have the same effect. it’s hormone control v possible recurrence. Difficult choice.
In the normal course of things, your GP should address the prolapse. All it requires is a referral to Gynae or Urology. However, waiting times are unbelievable. If your GP is being unresponsive, I’d suggest you ring your original breast care nurses’ service and discuss it with them. They should be there to support you indefinitely and, as you are on letrozole, they should be able to help. Best of luck x
Thanks for the tip on a drug that helps stop urge incontinence. I am ok at the moment, but I do find I need to go much more often now.
Seagulls