Osteopenia, a side effect of Anastrozole: Any advice?

I was on Anastrozol from 2022 and had severe backache and body ache. Also this year my Dexa showed osteoporosis.
My oncologist has prescribed Prelia every six months and replaced the Anastrozol with Tomaxifin. My backache has definitely reduced!
I have also started Osteostrong exercises and vibration therapy.

I will have to wait for a year at least to know if it has made any difference!

You may want to check k with your oncologist the change of the medicine.

Best wishes.

Thank you for your response Varsha. Just today I had another bad news. I got my annual blood test results and to my surprise it shows high level of cholesterol and sugar.
I’m 75 years old and never had any issues with my health and no chronic conditions. I’m shocked that within 2 years of taking Anastrozole I have been now developed osteoporosis, high cholesterol & sugar. This has made me quite anxcious.

Dear otas,

Thank you for your post. This month is 2 years on Anastrozole and my health keeps going downhill.

My blood sugar is high and so is my potassium and cholesterol.

But my biggest problems now are osteoporosis and back pain. I went from borderline osteoporosis to serious osteoporosis since taking Anastrozole. My endo prescribed Prolia and hopefully my insurance will cover it.

I can’t believe how frightened and confused I am.

Recently I started exercising for balance which has helped with the swelling in my feet but I don’t know how to exercise now. All I heard from my doctor when I asked about exercising was “Don’t strain your back.” Online advice says no bending or twisting the back. I’m so self conscious now that I’m afraid of every move I make. It’s ridiculous!

I guess I’m over-reacting but I feel kind of lost.

Thank you for listening.

I had same side effects - high sugar high cholesterol high blood pressure- then osteoporosis and servers pain in my upper legs /lower back to the point that I could not walk one morning. Prolia made the pain worse especially two or three day after injection. I decided to stop every thing and reset. After a year blood pressure and sugar are back to normal still have high cholesterol whereby it came down a lot and only slight pain in my legs in the morning. Negative mammography for the last two times. I think I will just hope that cancer is not coming back. I am 60 and prefer life quality. Not for ever but I am much happier.

Try PT. They are trained to understand how the body works. The more weight-bearing exercise you do, the more your bones will build themselves up. Walk, walk, walk. I find the more I sit, the more I hurt. Been on Anastrozole for 13 months and pushing through. I have dealt w/Osteoporosis off and on for 30 + years and exercise plus Calcium is the only way I've found to deal with it, in addition to Alendronate. I am improving since I went back to the gym six months ago. I can eat healthy to reduce effects on cholesterol and again, exercise helps to lower cholesterol overall.

Dear momo03,

Thank you for your feedback.

My Calcium is good according to blood tests. I take 1,200 mg a day plus 5,000 IUs of Vitamin D3.

I went to PT for a year (2023-2024). I’ll have to see if my insurance will let me go again.

Now I’m exercising at home and have a personal trainer at a local gym that is now giving me adapted exercises for the osteoporosis, which feels much better.

And Monday morning I’ll be getting my first Prolia injection. Hopefully that will also help.

I will definitely check out the Alendronate (I don’t know what that is yet.)

I just found out from my trainer today that soy products have estrogen (or produce estrogen) and I’m estrogen positive (99%)!

And guess what milk I’ve been drinking for years? Soy milk!! (I just bought 2 half gallons of organic, unsweetened Silk soy milk and can’t find any takers! AH!

So I guess I’ll be drinking almond milk.

Thanks again for your response. Take care!

Dear momo03,

Hi again. I looked up Alendronate and that’s Fosamax.

As it turns out, I can’t take Fosamax because of a possible kidney problem so the endocrinologist prescribed Prolia.

Stay well and thanks again.

Hello All,
I've been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis since 2006 but now after taking Anastrazole since 2021 my Rheumatologist is seeing more Osteoarthritis. Could be age related but my Oncologist has told me how Anastrazole can affect your bones. I'll see her shortly for a 6 month checkup. Sad to say but I feel like it's a double edged sword. Take the Anastrazole and have bone issues or don't and have cancer worries. I've been told to take Anastrazole for 10 years so that leaves me with 6 more years. Suggestions? Best wishes for all.🦋

Good for you!

I don’t have the guts to quit the Anastrozole yet. I’ve made positive changes in my diet and exercises which has made things better (less swelling, less pain) but if the Prolia makes my situation worse then I’ll seriously consider saying goodbye to Anastrozole and taking my chances.

Thank you for your reply. Be well.

I am new to this (Have only been on this med for 4 months) but I worked in healthcare for years. I would rather deal with osteo issues than cancer stage 2 or 3, etc. I'm a lobular patient but I think I"ll feel the same if I were ductal. Just my two cents.