Forum Discussion
Letrozole - Fracture in spine
Hi, a couple of weeks ago I posted about pain in my bones in my ribs and needing a bone scan. At the time the doctor was checking on bone mets.
Well I don't have bone mets which is great but the bone scan revealed a fracture in T9 of my spine and osteoporosis. This is scary because I have not even injured myself. I do recall picking up my 15 month old grandson and feeling pain which prompted me to get more tests done.
My ongoing treatment is Letrozole. I have only been on this for 6 months after switching from tamoxifen because of adverse side effects from that drug
I had a bone density taken before I started tamoxifen in November of 2020 and it was perfect at that time. So in the last 2 years of treatment my bone density has taken a big hit. Spontaneous fractures are a bit of a worry.
My GP gave me an injection today for the osteoporosis which I will now have every 6 months as well as taking vit D and caltrate with K2. I also made an appointment with my oncologist for Tuesday.
Just wanted to see if fractures have happened to others on AIs?
Also a reminder to keep an eye on bone density.
Well I don't have bone mets which is great but the bone scan revealed a fracture in T9 of my spine and osteoporosis. This is scary because I have not even injured myself. I do recall picking up my 15 month old grandson and feeling pain which prompted me to get more tests done.
My ongoing treatment is Letrozole. I have only been on this for 6 months after switching from tamoxifen because of adverse side effects from that drug
I had a bone density taken before I started tamoxifen in November of 2020 and it was perfect at that time. So in the last 2 years of treatment my bone density has taken a big hit. Spontaneous fractures are a bit of a worry.
My GP gave me an injection today for the osteoporosis which I will now have every 6 months as well as taking vit D and caltrate with K2. I also made an appointment with my oncologist for Tuesday.
Just wanted to see if fractures have happened to others on AIs?
Also a reminder to keep an eye on bone density.
21 Replies
- That is good and bad news.
I had Osteopenia, prior to cancer in 2020.
I am on AI's too.
My Oncologist has been monitoring my bone density annually, in anticipation of decreasing bone density.
I had my first Zometa infusion in December.
My drug has issues for me with Dental work.
Were you told of any side effects for the injection that you were given?
Our cancer treatments are the gifts that just keep giving.
But not each of us are exactly the same. - Yes @Keeping_positive1 I was given Prolia. I am relieved to know what the pain is from. Just need to heal this fracture and keep taking the medicine 😀. Bloody nuisance. I will have a chat to the physio about some weight bearing exercises when I can and discuss with the oncologist.
- Oh yes, I must not have osteoporosis in the spine either, as still in the "green" area, but in my left hip I am osteopoenic as in the yellow area. It doesn't state what the state of my right hip is in, not sure they scan both??? Do you know?
I also had an improvement and queried this a couple of years ago, and was told this can happen. However last scan a few weeks ago I commented how great my spine result is and she jolted me back to reality! - @Afraser at the rate us forum members are going some of us are on our way to earning an honorary doctorate in the oncology field. :wink:
- I’m not sure exactly what it means. My oncologist too took the wind out of sails (there was I thinking my last reading was an improvement!) but I have absolutely no pain or discomfort, do yoga and can twist my spine with the best of them. I don’t have osteoporosis, my left hip has been the most osteopoenic part of me, so I don’t know. Maybe things will be clearer when I stop taking the AI.
- @Afraser I was thinking I had a great reading in connection to my spine, whereas my pain the back is constant from the osteoarthritis. Amazing we hadn't heard of this before, I was blissfully unaware and thought, well I have osteoarthritis in my spine but at least I don't have any osteoporosis in my back. Not necessarily so. :)
- My oncologist mentioned that arthritis can give an inaccurate reading (ie better than it really is) also in connection to the spine. First he’d mentioned it, after almost 10 years of tests!
- So glad it isn't bone mets, but sorry about hearing you have a fracture. I was told that if a person has osteoarthritis (particularly in the spine region) then a true reading/result is not as clear cut as we may think. Mainly because if there are any bone spurs it will be more difficult to obtain an accurate test result. I never had heard of this before, but was told at my last dexa scan which was only about 3 weeks ago.
Has anyone else heard of this before? Wondering if the reason was you already had some osteoarthritis in your spine, and possibly already pre osteoporotic without tests revealing that. It does indeed sound strange to be within range 2 years ago, and only so far 2 years on AIs to have your T9 of your spine become so brittle.
@Cath62 were you given the Prolia injection? - Hi Cath
Sorry you have a fracture. You have reminded me I have a question to ask my medical team when I see them next about a bone dexa scan. I thought it was something that I should have every year and I have only had 1.
You have also reminded me I need to take my vit d and magnesium daily not just the days I remember too which is not a lot of them.!!
Hope the injection helps you. - Dear @Cath62,
Good news and bad news - ain't that the way it goes!
