Osteopenia & Bone Density Test
Hi Karen and all! Let me share my experience. (My med tale is in my signature below.) After Taxotere I took a bone density test and was diagnosed w/osteopenia. I was alarmed. But for a little met bc I was in good shape, though somewhat blown away by the side effects of that chemo.
My GYN consulted w/a rhumatoidologist/friend and said he suggested I be put on a PROPHYLACTIC dosage of Fosamax (1999) -- a HALF dosage, back in the day when we took it every day vs once a wk or is it now once a mnth? Any way, I followed the recommendation. Not a big deal. 5 yrs later I was taken off Fosamax (half dosage). Why? Because there's no reason to stay on it. Every thing is great!
I had thought that I was hoping for "retarding" further deterioration. I had no idea the condition could improve! I just had a bone density test (now 4 yrs later) and I am told YOUR BONES ARE BEAUTIFUL! Osteopenia still gone.
I would not do nothing w/osteopenia, which can surely and especially worsen w/chemo! This is too important an issue to be ignored.
I wish you luck, Karen. Please tell us the rest of your story. Even in the midst of a harrowing ordeal such as we face (as Survivors or not, we are all still WARRIORS). ANDI
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Andi BB
'95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive...
'98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!)
+ good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either...
Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...
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