Our bones and AI's

[Debra]

Is there anyone else out there that is on something such as actonel or fosomax for their bones?
I am about to start fosomax since I was just recently switched from tamoxifen to Arimidex which supposedly causes bone loss. I had a bone scan stating I am osteopenic---I will be 42 next month. (total hysterectomy in December).
I was just googling fosomax and don't like what I see!! Lot's of negative things. I am so darn tired of trying to do what's best and getting so confused over the good and the bad info out there.
So do I want osteoporosis or risk my breast CA coming back? Any help or insight into fosomax would be greatly appreciated.

[Caroline UK]

Debra,
I so know what you mean, one scantily-informed/over-informed decision to make after another, isn't it? But somehow we muddle through, and become better informed as we go along.

I'm 48 and was made post-menopausal by the chemo. I'm on Arimidex, and like you am osteopaenic, in L4-L5 of my spine. I've been put on Calcichew-D3 Forte, rather than Fosomax, so can't comment from personal experience, but my mother-in-law has taken Fosomax for years without any problems, if that's any help at all.
Good luck in your fact-hunting and decison-making.

[suzan w]

I was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis when I was 45 years old and started on Fosomax at that time. Also started on hormone replacement therapy too as my doc felt that it would help protect my bones...ya right! I think it fed my ER+ tumor...anyway! I am still taking fosomax and still do not have good DEXA scan scores...I have not noticed any side effects from taking Fosomax. Taking Arimidex. Need to go for DEXA scan but keep putting it off...sometimes there are things I would just rather not think about right now!

[R.B.]

I have seen a number of trials suggesting improved bone density with increased omega three intake (DHA) in particular.

Here are two specific link and one general one.

Some trials on rats and mice but not many specific ones with people.

Food for thought.

RB

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=pubmed_DocSum

One of the most intriguing current and future impacts on public health may come from a higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids, such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The omega-3 fatty acids continue to accumulate research that suggests that they may prevent a variety of diverse chronic diseases and potentially some acute clinical scenarios. In the first part of this article, the potential for these compounds to prevent certain cardiovascular conditions are discussed. In the second part, the potential for an impact in arthritis, numerous areas of cancer research, depression, maternal and child health, neurologic diseases, osteoporosis, and other medical disciplines are also briefly covered. The future appears bright for these agents, but specifically which conditions, who qualifies, testing, frequency, adequate sources, future trials, and numerous other questions need to be addressed and answered before the potential impact can catch up to the recent hype.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...=pubmed_docsum

Laboratories of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Senbaru 1, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.

Seven-week old female rats fed restricted foods including the fish oils Docosahesaenoic Acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and perilla oil with food intake decreased by 50%, had increases of fracture force and bone mineral density (BMD) and decreases in levels of Deoxypiridinoline (Dpd) and Calcium (Ca) in the urine, compared with those of rats with osteoporosis due to restricted soy bean oil food intake. Therefore, the fish oils DHA and EPA and perilla oil depressed excretion of urinary Ca and inhibited osteoporosis due to restricted food intake.

PMID: 15618634 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...play&DB=pubmed

[tricia keegan]

I began taking Fosamax only a month ago having started on Arimidex last September,my first base line dexa scan showed esteopenia in my spine.
My first week on Fosamax all my Arimidex side effects were amplified,eg bone/joint pain and neuropathy.
The second week it was'nt so bad and each week it seems to be more tolerable,the hard part for me is taking it before tea or breakfast with a lot of water and also remembering to take it!
I'm hoping it helps or at least slows down the bone damage and will be interested to see any other replies you get.
I am 48 and had an ooph last year as I'm trriple positive.

[Bev]

I'm destined to start Arimidex soon and am a little worried. Bone loss is a serious thing if you want to be active and without pain. I haven't seen any studies combining Arimidex with Omega 3 supplements. Guess it can't hurt. I keep having a nagging doubt that perhaps triple positives can delay Arimidex for a year or two. I guess I'm just torn between my choice of side effects. BB