Question for the gals....

While I have not had cancer, my sister is a 12 year survivor of triple negative breast cancer.  She was told she needed to take this medication, but she won't do it due to the side effects.  My mother and her sisters all have had or have osteoporosis so it runs in the family.  I remember my mother used a nasal spray for hers.  I dont' remember her having any side effects and she was on presidone(?) for her asthma and had been for years and years.  I remember one time she fell in her bathroom and took a very hard hit.  My sister rushed her to the ER but she was okay, no broken hip and the doctors couldn't believe it.  She did have a very large bump on her hip for months though.  Me I have been told I need to take the medication, but after reading all the side effects possible, I won't do it.  What I did was start exercising and taking calcium and the last time I was tested the doctor couldn't believe that my bone density test was clear compared to the one I had had before that.  

I know that they have to tell us all the side effects of medicine, but when they do it scares me to the point I don't want to take it.  

Sharon

phrannie51 said:

Bill...I know men

can have osteoporosis, too....I wasn't leaving them out, just thought the chances of a woman here taking the drugs for it would be higher.... .  The Dr. said I was at high risk because of my age, my size, and ethnic background....old, skinny and white.....my mom broke both hips, and I really would not want to be laid up for 3 months at a time trying to heal from that.

It feelz like a weighty decision....and I don't know if it should be.  The necrosis is a rare side effect....seems heart burn is the more common one.

p

not that I can help you with the question about the drug but I have been told that working out eg. Weight training and consumption of calcium will help quite a lot with bone density. 

duck1255 said:

Bone density

I am on both on this board and breast cancer. My primary is breast cancer and I had mets to my mandible. I had surgery last July but for that reason they say no to Zometa which is the same type drug. They said that its too big of a risk and to take vitamin D and calcium

Tough call. Sorry you are faced with the decision. I would tell the doctor my concerns and see if there is an alternative solution like calcium and whatever you can do to put weight on. Having had my mandible removed, replaced and removed, Personally, I would rather risk a broken bone.

phrannie51 said:

Think I better talk to the Dr. about all this...

I really do feel concerned, and I'm thinking because he's my PCP, that he's not looking at it from the Throat Cancer side of things....only that he's got a 64 y/o woman in his office who is at risk.....and forgetting about all the rest of it.  Afterall, he sent me to the ENT when I had the lump, but hasn't really seen me since. 

LOVE YOU GUYS!!  Thanks for helping me out on this one....and letting me know, it's not just me being neurotic (in the last 3 years, I'm always checking myself mentally....checking for neurosis....LOL).

p

P....I always say we are our best advocate.  You are doing exactly that !  Excellent question for anyone having to take other medication after or during cancer.  Always question, never feel you can't  get the answers.  My best to you always !  Katie 

Hi Phrannie

I'm a little unclear from the posts above, exactly what the consensus is.  We are all at significant risk for osteoradionecrosis of the jawbone.  I would steer far away from any medication that would contribute a significant additional risk toward getting it.

Deb