Breast cancer treatment and osteoporosis

For -2.7 a bisphosphonate is good! And it helps with preventing cancer, possibly. You can trust your docs. With -2.7 bone builders would not be covered anyway 🙂

If you cannot tolerate the Fosamax, then you can be considered to "fail" it and insurance might cover other meds. But talk to your doctor if you are experiencing such awful side effects. Some people do Prolia with cancer, but that can end up requiring a bisphosphonate when you stop! We are all between a rock and a hard place.

I could not do a bisphosphonate during my cancer treatment and lost a lot of bone. I was on an aromatase inhibitor like you, letrosole) for 5 years. Then Tymlos after the cancer meds, helped me catch up, though I fractured. If you can tolerate Fosamax it will protect you, perhaps on two counts- bones and cancer. Reclast is standard protocol, with my docs, but Fosamax is a good one if you didn't want to do that.

I will ask her.

Thanks so much for weighing in! I sure hope you're right and that maybe Fosamax can protect bones from potential spread like Zometa. I'm sure I'll be on Letrozole a long while. I'm sorry you fractured and hoping your number improve! xo

I think it’s very individual. Not everyone sees a dip in bone density. I had my DEXA yesterday and at 24 mos on Anastrozole I have held steady with .2 here or there. Normal spine, and right hip and osteopenia now in left hip. I’m 73 and have always had an active lifestyle and genetics also plays a role. I am so grateful that good well studied meds are out there for us if ( and when) we do need it.

@anjalima were you on a bone med during anastrazole?

Sending warm hugs !!

No I was/am not.

Wow, I lost so much bone density on letrozole! My doc did not want me on Reclast due to afib, a concern that has since been disproved. I hope you continue to do well!

I'm trying to avoid additional meds. So I'm being proactive and trying to maintain or improve my osteoporosis by strength, balance, and other excercises. We'll see how that goes. I just wish doctors would let us try things on our own before pushing meds. My opinion only. I also take vitamin D and K. I stopped calcium supplements as new research has determined that that has a set of its own problems. I try yo get calcium by diet alone.

Thank you. Hope it holds . I do not take any calcium other than food based but I do take 1000 D3 and K2. I’m a fan of k2… calcium score of arteries was 0!