1. < Breast Cancer

Zometa infusions to help prevent bone loss from cancer treatments

Posted by trixie1313 @trixie1313, Jun 13, 2019

Has anyone had Zometa infusions to help combat the effects of aromatase inhibitors (bone loss). I have osteoporosis of my spine and osteopenia of the hip and am told I need this to prevent future fractures.

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sequoia | @sequoia | Sep 5, 2021
In reply to @omega20 "I was a nervous wreck and had a headache the day of. My blood pressure was..." + (show)
@omega20

I was a nervous wreck and had a headache the day of. My blood pressure was 186/85. However, It all went very well. I was scheduled to be in the infusion room (very crowded) for one hour. The LPN got the needle in the vein very quickly with not much pain. She then ordered the zometa from the pharmacy. I am not sure what went wrong at that point but it did not come. She had to order again which extended my stay. I am not complaining because some people were there for two hours getting infusion. I do not think I had any side effects from the actual infusion but I did not feel well the next day (headache etc from the stress). I think I will be more relaxed next time (although it was not a great experience and I doubted my decision at times and wished I had taken Prolia instead). I am okay with it now. Time will tell. I guess it is possible to switch these osteo meds? Not sure though.

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@omega20 I had to wait probably 15 minutes fir my BP to come down from 155/114. They said bottom number had to be 90 or below. That slowed my visit.
I’m so glad you didn’t have any reaction to infusion and that it all went fairly well.
Why do you want to switch to Prolia? I have a friend that takes that. How is it different than Zometa?

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1 reply
omega20 | @omega20 | Sep 6, 2021
In reply to @auntieoakley "Taking an infusion these days can certainly be nerve wracking, I am glad the first is..." + (show)
@auntieoakley

Taking an infusion these days can certainly be nerve wracking, I am glad the first is over for you. I hope things go easier and you are more relaxed next time. Can you say why you think you might have chosen prolia?

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I have read that Prolia actually builds bone whereas Zometa just helps to prevent further bone loss. I am not sure if this is accurate. It also seems that a simple injection every 6 months is much easier than the infusion.

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1 reply
omega20 | @omega20 | Sep 6, 2021
In reply to @sequoia "@omega20 I had to wait probably 15 minutes fir my BP to come down from 155/114...." + (show)
@sequoia

@omega20 I had to wait probably 15 minutes fir my BP to come down from 155/114. They said bottom number had to be 90 or below. That slowed my visit.
I’m so glad you didn’t have any reaction to infusion and that it all went fairly well.
Why do you want to switch to Prolia? I have a friend that takes that. How is it different than Zometa?

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According to my doctor, Zometa is recommended for breast cancer patients; it gives you about a one or two percent protection against having breast cancer spread to bone in addition to helping stabilize bone density.

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ana002 | @ana002 | Sep 6, 2021

I'm having gas fumes oder months after lumpectomy surgery is that normal

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1 reply
Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Sep 8, 2021
In reply to @ana002 "I'm having gas fumes oder months after lumpectomy surgery is that normal" + (show)
@ana002

I'm having gas fumes oder months after lumpectomy surgery is that normal

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Hmmmmmm. Are you having any other treatments? Or medications?

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Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Sep 8, 2021
In reply to @ana002 "Yes hormone pills" + (show)
@ana002

Yes hormone pills

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It could be the change it hormones. Medications can do some pretty strange things to your senses. My nose became hypersensitive from some medications. My husband has weird smells he tries to define. Have you talked to your doctor about this?

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judylynne | @judylynne | Sep 16, 2021
In reply to @sequoia "Finally got an appointment w/ another oncologist. He spent the time w/ me explaining estrogen levels..." + (show)
@sequoia

Finally got an appointment w/ another oncologist. He spent the time w/ me explaining estrogen levels in regard to my taking Anastrozole. He went over my bone density current test as well the summary I wrote up of my history of bone density tests, do he could easily see the numbers snd changes. I felt he was thorough and concertos me. He recommended options & recommended Zometa infusion. I will have my first one today 9/1. Thanks to this group & forum I went into my appointment with more knowledge snd could ask knowledgeable questions. Thank you all. Blessings

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I have been on Anastrozole since February 2020. I am now doing OK after some problems in the beginning. My last bone density test showed osteoporosis. I have had osteopenia for many years. My oncologist now wants me to start Zometa. Someone suggested that I have BTM (Bone Turnover Marker) testing done. Have any of you had this test?

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2 replies
Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Sep 16, 2021
In reply to @judylynne "I have been on Anastrozole since February 2020. I am now doing OK after some problems..." + (show)
@judylynne

I have been on Anastrozole since February 2020. I am now doing OK after some problems in the beginning. My last bone density test showed osteoporosis. I have had osteopenia for many years. My oncologist now wants me to start Zometa. Someone suggested that I have BTM (Bone Turnover Marker) testing done. Have any of you had this test?

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I have not had this test, but my husband has. The simplest explanation is that it tests for bone remodeling activity. This gives the doctor a reasonable piece of information to decide if Zometa is right for you. This article from Australia gives a more complex explanation.
https://www.nps.org.au/assets/160b500bb0e8e8b4-42e762c36a33-b4361b6f9bd167a83bc79916dfa0bc09ad7c80ad8347b72b1f36e8d54ae2.pdf#:~:text=Markers%20of%20bone%20turnover%20are%20proteins%20originating%20from,while%20larger%20fragments%20may%20be%20detected%20in%20blood.

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1 reply
sequoia | @sequoia | Sep 16, 2021
In reply to @judylynne "I have been on Anastrozole since February 2020. I am now doing OK after some problems..." + (show)
@judylynne

I have been on Anastrozole since February 2020. I am now doing OK after some problems in the beginning. My last bone density test showed osteoporosis. I have had osteopenia for many years. My oncologist now wants me to start Zometa. Someone suggested that I have BTM (Bone Turnover Marker) testing done. Have any of you had this test?

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@judylynne I have not heard of this test. I will be following this post. My T score was -2.8 w/ -2.5 being in the level of osteoporosis.

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