Triple negative breast cancer using Prolia

This makes no sense to me, why would they require you to be on an anti cancer drug to treat your bones? Ugh, sometimes I really hate insurance companies. If you have osteopenia or osteoporosis this feels a no brainer, but again……ugh, we are talking about insurance companies. You might need to talk your doctor about what drug he recommends you use for bone health and then enlist their help with fighting for it.
Have you had a recent dexa scan to determine where your bone health sits?
Sometimes I find talking to the insurance directly helps. Have you called the insurance company directly and asked for them to approve this drug for your bone health? What was the answer?

The first time talking to the insurance company they were not very helpful. I called again and was told the prior off form as my diagnosis of breast cancer with osteoporosis and suggested the doctor sends a new prior authorization to just say osteoporosis. If the new insurance company denies it again then I have to do an appeal. I am keeping my fingers crossed as I'm sure it was the wrong box checked on the prior authorization form and it will work itself out. Insurance companies and doctors both drive me crazy!

This does sound like a wrong box was checked. Any update, @paulyd1?

My doctor wouldn’t let me have Prolia after 8 years. I am on Reclast once a year. And I am a 3 time TNBC thriver…

I am going to switch to an endocrinologist this year. I dont think my primary MD staff is up to getting the order right. Congrats on your survivorship! May I be so blessed to never get it again!

@paulyd1 patients with hormonal breast cancers (80% are hormone-positive I believe) take Prolia to combat the bone loss from anti-hormone meds. With a triple negative cancer, you are not taking Prolia for that reason but for osteoporosis alone (or whatever bone med you end up with, Reclast is also used for bones with cancer meds.)

For others, just want to clarify this is not correct:
"I am postmenopausal in my 70's so I really do not have a high risk for hormone + breast cancer at anytime and dont need the drug to prevent it."

We older women still get hormonal cancers- many of us_ since there are other sources in the body that produce estrogen (adrenals, fat). The rate of breast cancer is higher for older folks and many of them are hormonal cancers.

Of course with a triple negative cancer, anti-hormone meds aren't useful since your cancer is not fed by hormones.

Unfortunately, I am dealing with my 2nd reoccurrence of TNBC in 4 and 1/2 years. All the best to you.

Hi, hope you're doing alright.

Did you have any reaction. to the prolia shot? My oncologist recommended that i take something because of bone loss from taking anastrazone... what other bone building drugs are there and how safe..
Anyone has any advice.

Appreciate it and I appreciate you all😊

Hi beestrong,
When I was diagnosed at 70 with TNBC in my L breast and ER+PR+ breast cancer in my right I also had 2 spinal compression fractures and had osteoporosis. I had been trying to decide which bone building drug to go on for months. Should have started a med earlier and maybe I could have avoided the spinal compression fractures. Well wham the fractures and breast cancers happened at once. I went to Mayo Rochester because our hometown hospital had missed my having hyperparathyroidism for years (a cause of osteoporosis and kidney stones and I had both of those for years and saw my pcp and a nephrologist every year) so we lost confidence in the care there for something very serious. I had a bilateral mastectomy at Mayo and they put me on tamoxifen for the ER+ breast cancer due to the osteoporosis because it can help build bone. The oncologist suggested Zometa infusions 2 times a year for 3 years. He said that studies show that women who have had breast cancer and were on Zometa had a higher survival rate. So since I had the TNBC plus the ER+ I was happy to get something else to help me. Reclast is the same drug but the dose is 5 mg once a year vs Zometa 4mg 2x a year. Maybe the 2x a year is more helpful if you have had breast cancer. Good luck deciding what to do. Sending love and wellness wishes to you❤️

Hi ssmab,

Thanks for your reply and helpful information.

She didnt mention those two drugs , the she mentioned fosomax and and the prolia shot

I'm doing some research on both and will decide whether to or not. I imagine I will have to take some sort of bone builder drug earlier than later.. it's just everything requires us taking one drug or the other..

Sending you best wishes and best health ....