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Becky · 05-05-2007, 07:14 PM

Mary Jo

All is well with me. Osteopenia is the early stages of osteoporesis. When I got my ovaries removed I had a bone density test and it showed the beginnings of osteoporesis in my spine (my neck and hips were fine). Since I am moderately ER+, I am also on Arimidex. Lack of estrogen can speed up the bone loss process. Since I was getting Herceptin IV, my gyne and onc together decided that I should get Zometa (a bone hardener in the same class as the oral drugs Fosamax and Boniva) but Zometa only has to be given every 6-12 months. I was due for an IV which kind of through me for a loop because I thought once Herceptin was over and it would be time to do something, my onc would just give me something oral. So when I went for my normal 4 month check this Thursday and he said "let's go to the infusion room", I almost started to cry. The nurses were a bit freaked out to see me until they all knew I was really ok. When the nurses see you back in the infusion room, its usually not a good sign but it was this time. One old man in there said, "you look healthy as a horse"! And I said I was.

05-05-2007, 07:14 PM	#5
Becky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockton, NJ Posts: 4,179	Mary Jo All is well with me. Osteopenia is the early stages of osteoporesis. When I got my ovaries removed I had a bone density test and it showed the beginnings of osteoporesis in my spine (my neck and hips were fine). Since I am moderately ER+, I am also on Arimidex. Lack of estrogen can speed up the bone loss process. Since I was getting Herceptin IV, my gyne and onc together decided that I should get Zometa (a bone hardener in the same class as the oral drugs Fosamax and Boniva) but Zometa only has to be given every 6-12 months. I was due for an IV which kind of through me for a loop because I thought once Herceptin was over and it would be time to do something, my onc would just give me something oral. So when I went for my normal 4 month check this Thursday and he said "let's go to the infusion room", I almost started to cry. The nurses were a bit freaked out to see me until they all knew I was really ok. When the nurses see you back in the infusion room, its usually not a good sign but it was this time. One old man in there said, "you look healthy as a horse"! And I said I was. __________________ Kind regards Becky Found lump via BSE Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45 1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side) 2 micromets to sentinel node Stage 2A left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg lumpectomies 9/7/04 4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol Used Leukine instead of Neulasta 35 rads on right side only 4/05 started Tamoxifen Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations Oophorectomy 8/05 Started Arimidex 9/05 Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06 Arimidex Only Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia NED 18 years! Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"