Bone Density Test

jlharris
jlharris Member Posts: 47
in Breast Cancer #1

I recently received my bone density results and it show that I have Osteopenia in the left femoral neck, a T scor of -1.7. My onc wants me to take Fosamax but I have been reading up on medication for Osteopenia and some say medication is not needed until you are diagnoised with osteoprosis.

Has anyone else been in the same situation? I have read the side effects of the Fosamax and I do not want to take this medication. I think that calcium intake in supplements and food will help the situation.

Thanks for any feed back.

Jenifer

Comments

  • grannabeth
    grannabeth Member Posts: 95
    #2
    I just had a DEXA Scan

    I just had a DEXA Scan about a month ago before I started Tamoxifen to get a baseline and found out I have osteoporosis. Got Vitamin D levels very low with a score of 17, so my onc sent me to the Mineral Metabolism doctor for an evaluation. She took a lot of blood samples for nine different tests and this weekend I have to do a 24 hour urine test at home and take it in on Monday to the lab.  Doc said some of the tests could take three weeks to come back so I go back for consult on Sept 26. I'll see what she says about the test results and type of treatment.

    I, too, have read about Fosamax and do not really want to take that, and am hoping for something else.  I just feel that with taking the tamoxifen  and just  finishing radiation this summer that my body is under going enough, but then again I don't want to have any spine fractures.  My osteo is only in my lumbar spine. My hips (femoral neck) are fine as iare my arm bones.  My doc said I'm a mixed bag on this.

    Have you researched other oseto drugs, or calcium supplements and Vitamin D that might do the job with less side effects?  I have done a little research, but since we don't have all of my tests results back yet, the bone mineral doc has gone over the categories of drugs for this, but not made any recommendations until test results are in.  So I'm in a holding pattern.

    Let us know what you decide about Fosamax.  I hope you find the answers you are looking for.

    Grannabeth

     

     

  • jlharris
    jlharris Member Posts: 47
    #3
    grannabeth said:

    I just had a DEXA Scan

    I just had a DEXA Scan about a month ago before I started Tamoxifen to get a baseline and found out I have osteoporosis. Got Vitamin D levels very low with a score of 17, so my onc sent me to the Mineral Metabolism doctor for an evaluation. She took a lot of blood samples for nine different tests and this weekend I have to do a 24 hour urine test at home and take it in on Monday to the lab.  Doc said some of the tests could take three weeks to come back so I go back for consult on Sept 26. I'll see what she says about the test results and type of treatment.

    I, too, have read about Fosamax and do not really want to take that, and am hoping for something else.  I just feel that with taking the tamoxifen  and just  finishing radiation this summer that my body is under going enough, but then again I don't want to have any spine fractures.  My osteo is only in my lumbar spine. My hips (femoral neck) are fine as iare my arm bones.  My doc said I'm a mixed bag on this.

    Have you researched other oseto drugs, or calcium supplements and Vitamin D that might do the job with less side effects?  I have done a little research, but since we don't have all of my tests results back yet, the bone mineral doc has gone over the categories of drugs for this, but not made any recommendations until test results are in.  So I'm in a holding pattern.

    Let us know what you decide about Fosamax.  I hope you find the answers you are looking for.

    Grannabeth

     

     

    Grannabeth,
    Thank you for

    Grannabeth,

    Thank you for your response. I hope that you find out some results real soon also. I also finished rads this summer and started on Armidex and I agree with you, let the body rest some before starting something new.

    I think that I am not going to take Fosamax and just take my vitiman d and calciumn.

    Good Luck to you!

    Jenifer

  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #4
    jlharris said:

    Grannabeth,
    Thank you for

    Grannabeth,

    Thank you for your response. I hope that you find out some results real soon also. I also finished rads this summer and started on Armidex and I agree with you, let the body rest some before starting something new.

    I think that I am not going to take Fosamax and just take my vitiman d and calciumn.

    Good Luck to you!

    Jenifer

    Have your vitamin d level

    Have your vitamin d level checked.  Many breast cancer patients seem to have low levels.  I strongly encourage everyone to have their level checked.  Simple blood test.  Then your health care provider can provide you with the amount of vit d that you need.

    http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/low_vit_d

  • tufi000
    tufi000 Member Posts: 745 Member
    #5
    YES!

    I have been on Arimidex for 12 yrs and Actonel for the bones as well.  This year I was told they werent going to renew the scrip because the latest studies showed dangerous side effects of long-term use was much worse and not recommended if you dont have Osteoperosis.  So they said the same to me, that if it gets to that level they will have to give me something at that point.  The vitamin D is an issue too, BUT do you realize one bowl of cereal with milk is 1000 mg of calicium and stuff?!?!?!?  So I am a big milk drinker and dairy eater and I am willing to wait and see what the next bone scan says we when we can compare

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