Our bones and AI's

tricia keegan · 04-25-2007, 04:54 PM

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 · 04-25-2007, 08:36 PM

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

Cheryl E · 04-25-2007, 10:39 PM

Debra,

My diagnosis including age was exactly as yours. Because it was 4 years ago, I didn't recieve the herceptin. As soon as I finished the chemo, I had an oopherectomy and began to take femara. According to my onc (who I highly rescpect), it is common to become osteopenic after chemo and especially on an AI. He says the research shows the numbers level out after 1 1/2-2 years. I have had 3 Dexa's and sure enough, the results I got today show my numbers have stopping dropping. I am still considered osteopenic, have not progressed to osteoperosis. There is lots of controversy weather or not to tale fosomax with opsteopenia. My onc is against it, especially at such a young age. Make sure you take 1500 gm calcium daily (not more than 500 at a time) and do daily weight bearing exercise. I will have a dexa every 18 mos, but until my numbers fall in the truly osteoperosis range, I am comfortable not taking anything.

Debra · 04-26-2007, 09:16 PM

Thank you all for your replies. I have really been torn with this whole thing----taking an AI to prevent a recurrance yet I feel so at risk now for osteoporosis since I am already osteopenic. I just am getting so tired of having to make decisions about my health and there is no simple "do or don't" it seems.

I haven't started the fosomax yet. It is still sitting on my kitchen counter. I just started Arimidex on Monday so I am waiting to see what goes with that!

Cheryl it was good to hear your bone density values tapered off. That gave me some confidence for I have researched that the chemo can cause the bone loss. I am going to turn 42 in a few weeks and want many more pain free years ahead. It is really a *&$%@ when the treatments and preventions can cause other serious conditions!

rosamarie · 04-27-2007, 08:56 AM

There is a fairly new drug called Strontium Ranelate (Protelos) which some people are turning to here in UK. I don't know if it's available in US, but know my sister in South Africa has been put on it after her OP worsened on a bisphosphonate. Protolos is reported to have few side effects and is very easy to take. I was diagnosed with severe OP last July after lots of bc treatment. I dont know if the Protelos is working as it is another 2 years before I get another DEXA scan, but some people have reported good results.

tricia keegan · 04-27-2007, 03:56 PM

This is also available here in Ireland and I intend asking my onc about it when I next see her although I did read it's usually reserved for post menopausal women who cannot take bisphosphonates.

rosamarie · 04-28-2007, 02:21 AM

I did my own research and didn't fancy taking a bisphosphonate because of all the digestive problems. I also liked the sound of the Protelos as it builds new bone and slows down the loss of old, it also has very few reported side effects, and I have had no trouble with it. The Consultant Rheumatologist at my local hospital didnt want to give me Protelos because of my age (59), he wanted to give me Evista which I didn't want, and so I got it prescribed by Royal Marsden where I am being treated for my BC. It doesn't seem to be readily prescribed here if you are under 75, but I think if you make enough fuss about the digestive thing (I can't take aspirin or ibuprofen) they give in! I know of a couple of younger women who have been prescribed Protelos at the London Homeopathic Hospital, as they consider it much less harmful than other drugs, and almost view it as alternative medicine.