Letrozole - Fracture in spine

Golly Gosh - lots of activity going on @Cath62 ..... good to see that they have jumped onto all the scans/tests - but weird that no-one has similar opinions on the fracture!

My understanding of Pancreatitis is extreme gut pain - worse than childbirth .... 

I can't really offer specific suggestions .... it appears to have been quite thorough - unless you send the scans to someone else to review as well?

Take care & all the best for your Telecon next week. xx

Well now I have been to my oncologist and breast surgeon and have all different views on why I have a fracture at T9 of my spine.

My GP says osteoporosis based on a bone scan. I had a xray, bone a scan and bone density test and bloods.

Hospital Emergency had no diagnosis and were checking for a blood clot in my lungs. The did a contrast CT of chest and bloods. 

My oncologist still wants to check for bone mets and ordered an MRI. She looked at bone scan, contrast CT, bone density and bloods. Based on my bone density she disagreed with my GP that I had osteoporosis. She said my spine was normal but femur was pre osteoporosis. She suggested I get results from mri and the we discuss a PET scan or seeing an endocrinologist. She actually said maybe I will never know why I got that fracture.

My breast surgeon was also copied into all results including the MRI that the oncologist ordered. The MRI only showed the T9 fracture and confirmed no bone mets. My breast surgeon used to be a general surgeon and she actually suggested my pain episode may have been pancreatitis but couldn't explain the fracture.

So 4 different doctors and 4 different views and now I am still in the dark. Next step: I have a telephone consultation with the oncologist next week on 14th to get mri results i already know indicating the fracture. I don't know whether I just forget it and move forward or go back to the GP to look further. I am already $1400 out of pocket for all the tests. Happy to pay more but not sure i will get anywhere with this.  Any thoughts?

Not at all @Locksley. I gave glad no mets too. I am pleased to know what the pain was so now I can do something about it. Best wishes to you 💐

@Cath62 I've realised in my message earlier I forgot to say I glad the pain you had was not mets.   I hope you didn't think inwas insensitive.  Xxx

So sorry to read of your fracture - but so glad it is not Mets xxx. I think you'll have to be very aware of what you are lifting (and how) - eg your grandson, the wet washing, putting things away in cupboards etc ....  cos there's not much they can to to 'fix' the fracture, other than R&R ...  so take care xx

That's great that your MG & US are all clear too xx. Woohoo xx

take care xx

Thanks @iserbrown and @Keeping_positive1. Agree knowing is much better and I can do something about it. I will look at those sites you mentioned too. I do pilates with the physio so will be getting my program updated now I have these results.

 The self care never stops and takes a reasonable bit of my day, every day. I am glad I know what it is and I can now take steps to help my situation. Thank you to everyone for reading my vent. Much appreciated.

On a positive note I had my 3rd mammogram and ultrasound today post diagnosis ie year 3 and all clear- no evidence of disease. Horaay!

@Cath62 it would have been a shock considering it was just caused by lifting your grandson.  But as @iserbrown says at least you now know.  Now you can stop the bones from deteriorating more by having the prolio injection.  I do weight bearing exercises and resistance exercises and I feel they keep me stronger.  I also do some falls prevention exercises at home.  COTA (Council of the Ageing) have also some really good online exercises you can do, and also they can direct you to the Living Longer, Living Stronger classes that are run in different locations.  Of course your physio will have some programs also.  Another program that springs to mind is the GLAD program (Good Living Arthritis Denmark) and the program runs for 6 weeks, twice a week.  That can be expensive, but I was able to go through that after a 2 year wait in the public system, but in the meantime I did some of those exercises through watching online.

I hope you heal well from your fracture, and the pain is easing for you.  All the best with your treatment.

@Cath62
At least now you know.  Similar for my sister but for her it's the long term use of steroids, needed to keep airways open.  Unexpected side effects!

Take care

Hi @Abbydog, yes potentially there could be side effects like muscle and joint pain. The jaw bone could be impacted too so dental hygiene is important. I guess like all medications there are side effects and don't we know it. I felt so good when I changed from tamoxifen to Letrozole nut inside my bone density has really taken a hit and I never thought I would be sitting here now with a spinal fracture at 60.

 I guess in discussion with my doctor I agreed that having a fracture in my spine is a serious thing especially given I didn't have any trauma to get it. The worse I did was pick up my 15 month old grandson. I have to have these injections now because the risk of my fractures for me given my results of my bone scan are higher than the chance of the side effects from the injection. 

My oncologist is a cautious soul, knows his stuff but not one for leaping on every good sign without analysing it! As far as I know, the bone density scan can check anything requested, mine seems to check both best and worst areas and a bit in between! Given I am so close to finishing my AI treatment, I’m avoiding Prolia. But I am also well aware that not getting any worse may be the best I can anticipate. Which would be fine.