Broken ankle

Hello @Teeyay,
You may find the following site helpful, you can search for a specialist in your area, just choose medical oncologist.
https://www.cancer.org.au/about-cancer/find-a-specialist.html

I met the new oncologist but I do not click with him.   Does anyone know any oncos in Springfield Queensland 

Yes next year I will meet the new oncologist and if I don't connect will be looking again 

Oh that's surprising, gee! so is he handing you over to another Oncologist? glad you have such a great GP, worthwhile following it up there. x

Onco told me ( whilst sitting in front of him in wheelchair) don't worry about it    He is retiring so I guess he considered it not his problem.   Have a great GP who will point me in the right direction 

@Teejay I didnt have one done pre treatment either, there was never a need. Your Oncologist is the one to order it, Prolia injections are no big deal at all :) xx

@Deanne I will check out the bone clinic.   No check done by oncologist before I started so will get GP to do one.    Thank you everyone for your comments 

Thanks @Romla and welcome @Teejay I also as a result of chemo and having been on Tamoxifen for 4yrs as I had a recurrence, had bone density issues. My bone density scan post treatment showed Osteoporosis in my neck and lower back. I've been on Vitamin D since January 2016 post treatment and magnesium in water daily. I have Prolia injections 6 monthly to help with this too. They do recommend weight bearing exercises to help build muscle which helps the bones too. I have a scan in 6 months and will know if its improved.

I also use an Exercise Physiologist but it is finishing in 2 weeks, its been amazing and its more the stretching exercises it hasnt been hard and fast at all, Im not capable anymore, but the exercises help alot!

Hugs Melinda xo

I just noticed you are in Brisbane @Teejay. The Bone Clinic is at Coorparoo. They have classes at Coorparoo, Hendra, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Toowoomba. They even have clinical classes at Cooparoo which people undergoing chemo can attend. 

@Romla has it all correct. My bone density after chemo and 2 years on Tamoxifen (Tamoxifen can cause bone issues too, especially if you are premenopausal) was low but really plunged after I had my ovaries removed and started Femara. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis and my doctors suggested Prolia. I was not keen on more medication unless I had no alternative so I found The Bone Clinic. 

They have a research based (through Griffith Uni) weightlifting program for people with bone density issues. I saw their dietician and exercise physiologist before beginning the program. From what I have experienced it is definitely possible to improve your bone density even while going through treatment and/or while on aromatase inhibitors. Following their supervised program (just 2 weight sessions a week)for the last 12 months I have improved my bone density by 9.72% at the spine and almost 4% at the hip. I no longer have osteoporosis. I plan to continue on this exercise program while monitoring my bone density as I still have 6 years of Femara ahead of me.

As well as improving my bone density I feel so much better while undertaking everyday tasks. It has improved my flexibility and I now realise that I struggled to do certain movements not because I was getting ‘old’ (I’m only 51!) but because I lacked strength after going through treatment. I had lost muscle and bone. Building muscle again has meant my muscles have sent signals to my bones to grow stronger too (that is what the research has shown happens).

This program is suitable for most people but it is important to see an exercise physiologist who can assess your situation. It is one of the best things I have found to help me recover after treatment. I walked and swam a lot but in my experience this is not enough to counteract the effects of treatment. I needed the weights to rebuild my muscle and bones. Just ask your doctor about seeing an exercise physiologist (a GP plan, forget what they are called, can get you 5 visits covered by Medicare).