Treating Osteoporosis: What works for you?

@jakedduck1 The 11% came from my oncologist when I asked point-blank but I have confirmed that with online research. I think it’s a case of when it metastasizes it’s not as easy to pinpoint so more difficult to treat than if you had a primary cancer. My husband had prostrate cancer and with it also, if it recurred there would be a much lower chance of being able to eradicate it. It’s been three years on Monday since my transplant so I’m feeling that I’m pretty much out of the woods. Two more MRIs and they will consider it to not be a threat.
JK

@contentandwell
I’m not very knowledgeable about cancer and know nothing about transplants. I did read that The incidence of cancer in transplant patients is between 15-20% however I don’t know if those figures are accurate. Do you know if the chance of cancer decreases as time goes by? Where did the 11% figure come from? Is that for a specific type of cancer?
Jake

@jakedduck1 Leonard, this got by me but I am now trying to go over these posts re. osteoporosis so I finally saw it. I just googled and found this article:
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/organ-transplants-cancer-risk
What I do know is that since I had malignant lesions in my original liver I have an MRI yearly to make sure they did not metastasize. If at some point they do find cancer that originated with that the odds of survival are only 11% but I just figure that's not going to happen to me. I always figure that bad things won't happen to me but unfortunately I haven't been right a number of times. My odds have to change at some point.
JK

Hi @curlylocks . The Prolia is working. It has allowed me to build bone (by slowing down the chewing up of bone by the osteoclasts: my version of the medical explanation). My bone density after one year on Prolia increased 11.5 % in the spine (I was something like-3.3 or 3.4 and similar in the hip. My endocrinologist also wanted me on Forteo to be followed with Prolia. But I said I'd prefer Prolia and now she seems quite happy with the results.

Hi Sue 225, Unfortunately, Prolia is not strong enough for me. It prevents further bone loss, but does not replace bone. My T score, at 4.6, is too severe to take Prolia. I must build bone loss and that only can be done, more quickly, through a risky drug like Forteo or Tymlos. Two doctors have recommended Tymlos and I will begin treatment as soon as the nurse shows us how use the injections. Also, I will continue with my functional medicine doctor and his treatment along with his bone supplements. My goal is to stay on Tymlos a short time, not the full 18 mos. Only time will tell. I hope your choice of Prolia will be successful! Osteoporosis is a misunderstood medical condition by doctors and patients alike!

I stubbornly refused to listen to my doctor's advice for years re taking medication for osteoporosis. I regret doing that. So much unnecessary bone loss.

The maximum amount of time for Forteo is actually two years.

Interesting article. I’ve been reading Dr. Browns stuff for over 20 years. Initially I followed her advice, as well as many other alternate advice gurus, regarding more natural ways to stave off osteoporosis. From age 42 to age 64, this all worked to slow down my bone loss. But finally it became clear that something more drastic was necessary. I have started Forteo to hopefully regain some of my bone loss. Unfortunately, no drugs are free of side effects. You always have to weigh the pros and cons for your own unique situation. In reality, even “natural” substances should be used only after understanding their impacts as well. Also, I always take advice from sites that are selling their own alternatives to prescription drugs with “a grain of salt”. They are not without bias ... which is not to say, at all, that they are selling “snake oil” either. Only that we all must do the research to know what is the best for our own situations.

I have been on Prolia with very good results T score wise, but fell and fractured my foot in the winter and it took seven months to heal. My doctor is now putting me on Tymlos to build bone before resuming Prolia in the future (Prolia, my doctor told me inhibits healing if you fracture). I have opted for medication as the thought of losing my independence again is very undesirable, although my husband was helpful😊. Good luck in everyone’s journey

@contentandwell
Do you have any statistics on how many transplant patients actually get cancer?
Jake