Anastrozole and osteopenia

Question

Moderator moved @tom post from 'Activity' section to 'test, Treatments and Side Effects':

Hello my name is Molly would like to hear feedback on bone density, I have osteopenia have been on Anastrozole for the past 3 years been advised to stop if I want to .
diagnosed with DCIS early breast cancer in 2019
Cheers 😊

arpie · Answer

Your breast surgeon isn't an Oncologist, @tom ,..... I'd ask your Onc.&nbsp; &nbsp;Ask them, if you were THEIR mother/sister/partner - would they recommend you stopping.&nbsp; If they advise you DON'T stop, ask what you can do to lessen the chance of bone fractures xxtake care &amp; all the best

tom · Answer

Thankyou for replies ladies , my first bone scan was ok now second one not .I am 64 I’m really unsure if I should stop the hormone blocker it was my breast surgeon that said I could stop if I wanted ,

jennyss · Answer

@tom  Hello Molly,I have been on anastrazole for 7 years, luckily for me with little side effects, and my bone density scans show I am steady but I am at an ostopenia level - have been all along. I have been taking vitamin D tablets and alendronate.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Alendronate is in a class of medications called bisphosphonates. It works by preventing bone breakdown and increasing bone density (thickness)." (from the MedlinePlus website)from jennyss in Western NSW

arpie · Answer

@tom ... Hi Molly,&nbsp; That's a shame.&nbsp; Did you have bone density tests before you started the Anastrozole?&nbsp; Then the more recent tests would show how quickly your bone density has reduced?&nbsp; &nbsp;(Roughly) what age are you?&nbsp; Our bone density lessens as we age too ... so it can be a double whammy, with the AIs as well as natural aging&nbsp; :(&nbsp; &nbsp;Sadly, it is fairly common for the bones to become less dense &amp; more brittle with AIs - leading to fractures.&nbsp; (I fractured a vertebrae last year, but it was a nasty backwards fall so I can't really blame Anastrozole for that one :( )&nbsp; &nbsp;https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8685978/I've been on Anastrozole for 5 years now and last time I was checked a couple of years ago, my bones were 'OK' .... I see my Onc again later this month &amp; will ask for all the bone tests to be done again .... as I am finishing it next year, anyway, tho she has said I 'can' stop now if I like.&nbsp; &nbsp;If my tests come back as 'ok' I'll probably stay on it til this time next year ...take care &amp; all the best.&nbsp; &nbsp;I've been advised to take Caltrate tablets to help strengthen the bones.

cranky_granny · Answer

Hi @tom Ive been on AI for nearly 7 years. Started Ibrance in 2020?? ( I think) I was mildly osteopenia before I started. My last bone density showed I’m at the borderline for osteoporosis. Its a bummer of a side effect. I’m now taking Calcium with D3. In hopes to slow it down and to avoid the bone strengthening injection. I would have gotten osteoporosis eventually this just sped it up. All the extra crap I take for side effects magnesium for cramps. Vit C as Im prone to colds. Antihistamine for the itch. And nexium for reflux. They are all working just feel like i rattle.&nbsp;Because I am metastatic I’ve never been offered to stop. Sadly I didn’t make it to the 5 year mark (which was the recommended for me. Before the bone lesions were found&nbsp;If all your tests etc are clear and oncologist says you should be okay to stop it’s purely your choice.&nbsp;

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Anastrozole and osteopenia

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