Itching is driving me mad

[BG2015]

I'm 56 and 4 years on from successful breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. I can't take HRT anymore (although I did pre cancer for 4 years).

I've been taking Exemestane (Aromatose inhibitor to stop oestrogen production) since 2022. Host of side affects from this, insomnia, hot sweats, fatigue to name a few and the itching.

I've got terribly itchy ears, scalp (diagnosed as seborrhoeic dermatitis) and an itchy bottom. I've had 3 ear infections as a result of putting cream around my ears.

Ive been given various shampoos, ointments and creams over the last 12 months which have done very little. Nothing seems to be working and it's driving me mad.

Can anyone sympathise or have a solution.

Definitely sympathise. Itching is the work of the devil. I gouge myself on occasion, as pain is easier to deal with than itching. I use anti-itch cream with lidocaine in it. This definitely helps when things get unbearable.
Can you take supplements? Sage complex helped my hot flushes enormously. It took about 3 months for them to kick in and I nearly gave up but I stuck with it and it worked.

I don't think I can take sage because of the cancer.

After reading this post I wondered if you would consider seeing Dr Sally Ball at the Health in menopause clinic she’s based in Sutton Coldfield and she Offers’s holistic approach to menopausal patients whose unable to take HRT due to cancer treatments. I fully understand that she might be to far away for you to travel however she does do video call too.

Itchy bottom could be vaginal atrophy, it can effect the skin from vulva to anus. Topical oestrogen cream is the cure, it is safe to use by women who have had bc according to the latest research. It’s very weak solution but plumps up the skin. There are also topical moisturisers suitable, there’s a Facebook group called vaginal atrophy that has more product info than I can remember.

Luckily I'm still ok with vaginal issues. Still having sex twice a week and no issues with lubrication. I did change my tablets as my sex drive completely disappeared. So, I don't think it's vaginal atrophy.

Have you / can you take collagen supplements and or antihistamines? Collagen can help with skin issues along with zinc and magnesium and evening primrose. I can't take HRT either so I now take so many supplements I rattle... Some of them have definitely helped, others; m not so sure of???

Yours sounds much worse than my itching so not sure this will help. I get urticaria at night so I take 180mg Fexofenadine at bedtime plus Piriton in the middle of the night if I need it. When it’s really bad I take whatever cocktail of antihistamines I can find, although HRT has helped a lot.

I only use Oilatum cream as a moisturiser and smother myself in it, then on my neck area I apply a layer of organic Shea butter, it seems to help with the itching and also stops me scratching if I touch it in the night as it feels greasy. (I am not good to share a bed with!)

I get an itchy bottom but I assume mine is piles related but not sure as there’s nothing showing. I use Germaloid cream every night and it seems to help. I’ve also just started using oestrogen cream on my vulva twice a week and vagisil cream in between as that seems to help any itching there.

Itching is really horrible, I hope you get some good advice on here!

Sage isn't estrogenic.

My itchy skin was driving me crazy recently. I've given up sugar and hey presto, it's gone! Worth a try.