Osteoporosis
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@CassieB Not at all! 🤔Though now maybe I will blame my weight gain to Aclasta rather than the excess of chocolate, chips, biscuits, etc I’ve ‘accidentally’ consumed lately🥴😂. Seriously though no problems other than the very first one giving me a day of nasty bone pain. I picked up my Aclasta yesterday ready for my appointment in a couple of weeks. To give you an idea on price I paid $92 at Priceline phy. If you qualify for it to be subsidised the price is $40! Here’s hoping your wrist fracture has a $ilver lining 😁0
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Hmmm, my last bone density test shows little change from last year, osteopoenic in patches (left hip particularly, I wonder if it’s coincidental that I invariably carted my daughter about on my left hip!) but no osteoporosis. Bone density is still above average for my age. Good in one sense although a worse result might have motivated me to go off femara. Oh well, here we go for another year!1
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Dear @iserbrown
Thank you! An encouraging word is always welcome. I slightly lament the excellent bone density I had at 67 (that of a 35 year old according to my oncologist) but it’s probably allowed me to get this far with relatively minor damage, so I shall be grateful!4 -
@JanineG I saw the rheumatologist yesterday. I am starting on Aclasta in six weeks time. I need to have a full dental check up prior and start taking Ostelin because my vit D is a bit low. (43 and should be around 50). Treatment can stop and start apparently so I could have it once a year for 3-5 years and "get some money in the bank" as he put it. Maintain progress and revisit later. Side effects are low 1/10,000 for long-term use. Things such as bone loss in jaw. He also said it could protect me from bone cancer and thought it was probably a good thing I rejected the Femara 6 years ago because that causes worse bone loss. My osteoperosis is mostly genetic made worse by menopause and chemo. For 58 years of age I'm nowhere near normal in the scale in fact my bone loss is closer to a 70 year old. So willing to try this drug if it can slow it down.2
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Hi. I have had chemo and a double mastectomy 2 weeks ago because of Her2+ Invasive BC in my left breast.
After reading this thread,I am wondering whether to ask my oncologist to do bone density scan before he starts me on Letrizole. Shall I bring this up with him? I am on Herceptin for another couple of months. Thanks
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It’s always worth knowing what you are dealing with. If, like me, your bone density is good, you can feel a little easier about the impact of Letrozole, in that regard. If not, you can think about what other medications may be able to offset the bone thinning if it occurs. The test may not be free so check the costs (I pay about $125). Best wishes.0
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Hi @Caibo, I’m due to start Letrozole in about a month, and had a bone density scan a couple weeks ago. Lady was asking me why I was taking the scan, going through different reasons, and I couldn’t understand why. Then I realised she was trying to find a reason to get me the medical rebate. Being postmenopausal is reason enough, so if you are, or are taking Zoladex like me which will cause you to be, you qualify for a rebate. Scan was $160, I got $145 back (but I’m unemployed single mum). So it’s prob a good idea. Good luck Xx1
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It’s worth checking the conditions for rebate on the BCNA website ( bone density info). Postmenopausal is OK as long as you became so before 45 I believe. Also, if you are over 70, at the moment you can’t get a free one every year. Cheers0
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Oh yes that’s right, you do have to be under 45. I forgot about that. Too much info 🤦🏼♀️0
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@FLClover I was answering the same questions and the lady finally told me if I answered yes to just one question it wouldn’t cost me anything. So it was yes I have asthma and my BC nurse told me I have rheumatoid arthritis everywhere so those two things were enough to get it free. I have a health care card so haven’t really been charged for anything, even radiation in a private hospital.1
