Breast cancer treatment and osteoporosis

I have the same question as Letrozole has also pushed me deep into osteoporosis! I will start if Fosamax as Reclast seemed to have even more side effects but perhaps 🤔 should have started with Reclast which is Zometa, right? Appreciate thoughts? Xo

Hi! @beachbabe & Sue:

I actually have been wondering the same question regarding the safest & effective medication to take while on Anastrozole to prevent osteoporosis! I started taking Anastrozole since 1/18/24; had experienced loads of awful side effects such as: joints pain, trigger fingers, muscle pain all over body, etc., about 2 days after. Due to the fact that I declined the radiation treatments against my oncologists' recommendation, so I decided to tough it out and continue taking AI. Had been given Zometa infusion on 2/15/24, developed rash, itchy skin, and all sorts of flu-like symptoms on the same night. Again, I thought I simply had to tough myself out to get through whatever side-effects that might come, thus I strived on. Unfortunately for me, I experienced acute lower back pain suddenly on 2/25; shockingly for me, I discovered a soft "bump" grown exactly on my lumbar spine on the night of 2/26. The medical oncologist saw me on 2/28 and ordered a MRI Lumbar Spine with & without IV contrast to rule out the potential metastatic disease. Thank God (!) that MRI confirmed it is not caused by cancerous cells, but also revealed many spinal issues such as: lumbar lordosis, lumbar retrolisthesis on various levels, etc., and my medical oncologist now refering me to orthopedic spinal surgeon. Surely I don 't know which medications causing these spinal issues, because my medical oncologist did not confirm nor dispute any of these sudden occuring issues are caused by medications that they prescribed.

Yes, I truly wish somebody points us to the correct path to take the best medicine striving forward!

Best wishes to you all, my comrades fighting the disease of cancers!

I’ve been on an Anastrozole for 2-1/2 years and had two spinal fractures, and a rib fracture—getting a breast MRI. I’m going to go to OsteoStrong for osteoporosis, here in Tempe, Arizona. I had a knee replacement in 2021 and a hip replacement in December 2023. The surgeon said my bones are soft and fragile and that I could break my leg. So I have to be careful when I work out at OsteoStrong. I started taking strontium and calcium in August if 2023. I wish everyone many blessings.

@semurray Reclast and Zometa are both zoledronic acid but different medications (different dosages is all I know). It seems Reclast is often given for bones and Zometa for stage 4 cancer but both are used for bones and cancer. My docs use Reclast for stage 1 cancer and for osteoporosis.

does anyone get really chilly/cold about 3ish daily? I had Reclast and did horribly last November, but I still get really cold around late afternoons..

I'm sorry to hear about this side effect. I recently met with my endocrinologist at MGH and he didn't mention specifically feeling chilly/cold but did say general malaise and flu symptoms can persist for some time. Any other side effects from Reclast? I probably should have started with Reclast given my ILC Breast Cancer but I was so anxious about side effects I chose to start last week on the weekly pill, Fosamax. Hang in there.oxoxo

Reclast just about did me in! I was in so much pain and so cold that I couldn't get out of bed for 2 days. After 4 months, the flu like symptoms still hit every afternoon. Before all these BC drugs, I used to feel good.....5-10 years is a long time to feel awful. I keep hoping that my body will adjust soon.

Blessings to you today!!

Is there any bisphosphonate that doesn't come with potential nasty side effects? Do they all have the potential to cause jaw necrosis and fractured femur?

My MO recommends going on Zometa every six months for 3 years. I had Stage 1 grade 2 HER2- ER and PR +, lumpectomy (2 because 1 margin not clear the first time) and I've been on Anastrozole for 7 months with no problems so far.

I have osteopenia and don't want it to progress to osteoporosis.

The flu light symptoms only last for the first infusion of reclast - and is very good if you have digestion issues unlike the Fosamax