Fosomax

culka said:

1 inch is 2.56cm. 0.6cm is

1 inch is 2.56cm. 0.6cm is about 1/4 inch

Debra,

BTW the node is approx 1/4" as Culka mentioned....very small and too small to do a biopsy.  More about wait and see and that's what my doc did with a node on lung which was too small and told me not to worry, but check in 6 month checkup.  Turned out to be nothing...more about the "junk" we grow in our bodies which amount to our bodies getting older.  Bet you it's not a thing to worry about, but doc has the right approach to come back in 6 months and recheck with scan.

Fosomax?  I'd run far away as you know I'm not an avid med lover.  When my DEXA came back a few years ago showing very, very minimal thinning in hip area, doc wanted me on fosomax.  Told him no, give me the next year to bring it up with "weight-bearing" exercises and more supplements (vit D).  Bingo, 2 yrs later with next DEXA I was perfect.  Do you exercise at all, or what you call exercise is chasing your mom...argh!  Weights or walking are excellent!

Friend of mine is a dental hygentist and she was taught in dental school (4 yrs ago) if a person is on fosomax they need to have exray of jaw each time have dental exam.  Apparently it can cause issues with the jaw deteriorating (??), plus the drug stays in the body for some 15-20 yrs after you would stop.  To me it tells me this is a very potent and possibly rough drug for the body.  As well, read it can cause some sorta cancer in esophical area.  My gut, don't take it, but do try to make some other changes to keep your bones strong.  Sure beats having a deteriorating jaw many years later.  

Good luck and know I'm thinking of you~

Jan

P.S.  FYI a DEXA scan shows the bones from top level, not deep down inside the body.  Not truly accurate

Double Whammy said:

Not me!

I have developed an aversion to adding more medications unless I really really need to.  When I started on Arimidex after breast cancer treatments my oncologist wanted to immediately start me on a bisphosphonate, gave me a list of drugs (Boniva, Fosamax, Zometa, etc.) and said do your research and choose one.  I asked my pcp for her opinion and she said "not yet".   Onc said ok.  Next dexa showed some actual osteoporosis in my lumbar spine area.  PCP still said "not yet", that current research shows that the numbers in the lumbar spine are probably not significant at the level mine were - or something like that.  I took that advice as meaning given the meds I'm already on, that the interactions and side effects aren't worth it - yet.  Then my onc switched me to Tamoxifen (this was because I was constantly complaining about my lack of hair and I wanted to go off Arimidex and see if it helped).  In addition to potentially causing uterine cancer (which I no longer have to worry about getting), she said Tamoxifen is actually good for your bones.  My vitamin D levels are finally normal after taking 5000 IU daily, I've lost 30 lbs. and I exercise 5 X a week since Nov. 1 (this old broad is actually jogging on the treadmill - talk about weight bearing exercise!).  I'm looking forward to my next dexascan instead of dreading it (this fall).  I'm expecting improvement. 

So, my decision (based on conversations with both my breast oncologist and pcp) is not yet and because I simply don't want to! I will take something if I absolutely have to, but for now the risks just don't seem worth it to me.  I take meds for blood pressure, cholesterol, and Tamoxifen.  That's enough!

One more comment.  This pertains to breast cancer, but use of bisphosphonates has been shown to prevent bone mets.  Don't ask me how they know this. . .

Suzanne

I am surprised to hear you went off of Arimidex because of " lack of hair".   My hair is soooo thin.  I have a bald spot like the male balding pattern.  I am on Aromasin.   The onocologist just say yes that can happen.  I wear a hat when I go out due to the thin hair and bald spot.   I almost think bald is better.

Tomorrow  we leave for our trip to Norway, so I will be absent from this site.  We get bacK July 10. I plan on forgetting all about "C" and enjoying the cruise.  I hope you all continue to do well.  You all remain in my prayers.  In peace and caring.

Ro10 said:

Suzanne

I am surprised to hear you went off of Arimidex because of " lack of hair".   My hair is soooo thin.  I have a bald spot like the male balding pattern.  I am on Aromasin.   The onocologist just say yes that can happen.  I wear a hat when I go out due to the thin hair and bald spot.   I almost think bald is better.

Tomorrow  we leave for our trip to Norway, so I will be absent from this site.  We get bacK July 10. I plan on forgetting all about "C" and enjoying the cruise.  I hope you all continue to do well.  You all remain in my prayers.  In peace and caring.

First, have a wonderful and carefree time in Norway.  I'll miss you.

I look like an 80year old man  or as someone else said, the crypt keeper, without a wig.  There is a photo of me on my expressions page taken 1 year ago.  I had attempted to color my hair and that didn't work either.  My hair loss is from chemo (Taxotere) - it simply killed (dead) some of the hair stem cells.  The Arimidex apparently did not contribute to it (but it can cause hair loss) since it didn't come back when I went off it, but it was worth a try.  I am not "off" hormone (or anti-hormone) therapy - just switched to Tamoxifen instead of Arimidex.  I think "they" think Arimidex is better, but most of the studies have been done with Tamoxifen since it's been around so long.   

And yes, I agree that being totally bald is better.  I now actually shave my head because it looks better than trying to make a silk purse outa a sow's ear.  I usually wear a wig in public, but right now, here at my computer, I'm bald.  I sometimes wear a hat instead of a wig like to the gym. 

Suzanne

My bone density showed ostopenia in 2006. Since my sister had started to get jaw necrosis from Fosomax, I took Evista which is used instead of tamoxifen because it does not cause uterine cancer. The worst side effect is potential blood clots (DVT).

I had my thyroid biopsy last week because my node is 1.5 cm. Totally benign but the endocrinologist also treats severe cases of osteoporosis. She told me that I wasn't severe enough and should work with my PCA. However, she gave me a lesson in calcium. She said I needed 1500 mg. of elemental calcium daily split into 3 doses. She said no calcium citrate because even though it absorbs well, it is only 22% elemental calcium. Calcium carbonate (Kirkland chocolate chews) are 38% and calcium phosphatee is 40%. (Vitacraft gummi chews from Costco). Calcium phosphate acts as  a laxative though so she told me to mix the calcium carbonate with the calcium phosphate.

I have a walkvest where you can put weights in the pouches. I also have a DVD called Skeletal Fitness. Severe osteporosis runs in my family and next to a cancer recurrence, brittle bones are my biggest worry. Here is the link for the Walkvest on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Original-Walkvest-Training-Debbie-Rocker/dp/B001MIZOYQ