Breast Cancer Now Forum

Could I ask all ladies that get persistent thrush as a result of taking tamoxifen to report it at this website. Www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard ... View more

The moisture pessaries work but the acidity gave me a urine infection. Great! I've started the probiotics and will keep you posted. ... View more

I have also found a probiotic for women's problems. They are Optibac for women and are on Amazon. The friendly bacteria have been chosen to reach the vagina and should help balance yeast. Research on probiotics to prevent breast cancer is in its early stages but there are indications that taking the for women probiotics can help as a preventative. ... View more

Went into boots today and found Balance active menopause, moisture pessaries plus. It's a one a day treatment that balances the PH in the vagina and moisturises and heals as it contains Almond oil rich in Vit E. I shall try them and report back . I'm thinking that if I can balance the PH and stop the dryness, I'm less likely to get the thrush. I will report back. ... View more

I have been researching hard on this and thrush is seldom listed as a side effect but virginal dryness and itchiness is as for the menopause. Your vagina is usually acidic but take the Oestrogen away and it becomes more alkaline. The PH inside your vagina becomes more favourable to yeast infections.  You need to do all the obvious things like wearing cotton pants, don't wear tight trousers so much, change and shower straight after exercise and don't sit around in a wet swimming costume.  Further reading led me to find that inserting a vitamin E capsule into the vagina and rubbing vitamin E oil on the external skin will help with the dryness and will moisturise for sex. Using it once a day or just before sex will help but is not recommended for use with condoms as it dissolves them. Look on the Livestrong website for information. ... View more

Try menopause.org.au and search for vaginal care after breast cancer. Useful downloadable leaflet ... View more

My Doctor won't admit that this is a side effect of the Tamoxifen. They said persistent Thrush was a symptom of diabetes. I was sent for a fasting blood test but had no diabetes. I have just been prescribed internal cream to be inserted once a week. The cream is more gentle for continued use and lasts for two weeks before the thrush returns. It is canesten and can be bought over the counter. My breast care team think it may be lack of Oestrogen that is causing dryness and the dryness is allowing the thrush to keep taking hold. Probiotics haven't worked so far but I have not tried internal probiotics. ... View more