Osteoporosis after hormone therapy

The test that you took at the health fair must have been  the 'quickie' one. I highly recommend that you follow up with the more informative DEXA (also called DXA) scan. This scan will give you bone density numbers for hip, spine etc. and can be a baseline prior to hormone therapy.

If you repeat the test after one year of hormone therapy, you will find out if your bone density has changed. This will allow you to decide whether you want to start one of the osteoporosis drugs. No doubt that these drugs have side effects, so you are correct in questioning their use.

Personal: Much to my surprise I found out that I had osteoporosis of the spine and osteopenia in my hips, prior to hormone therapy. Started taking extra calcium (+ magnesium + vitamin D) and forced myself to exercise more (weight bearing exercises). Also got one dose of Reclast, which in my opinion, is the best of the biphosphonate drugs because it is infused (once a year), minimizing stomach troubles. But these are serious issues and advantages should be carefully weighed against disadvantages of taking one of the anti-osteoporosis drugs.

FreddyJoe said:

Scan

I did have a bone scan after I showed the test results from the health fair to the Dr.   I have no prior scans for a base line.  I am now taking calcuim and vitamin D twice per day per the Drs instructions.  I have acid reflux, and it looks like the pills for osteoporosis could make this worse, amoung other side effects.  I doubt my insurance would pay for the infused drug, many do not.

The chemical name is zoledronic acid; it's what I got (much less expensive).

IF (that's a big IF) you want to go this route, I (perhaps with help of your doctor) would fight with the insurance company, and use the acid reflux argument, if necessary. But as I wrote before, you need to decide if the risk of breaking a bone is worth it. The DEXA scan results should have listed the 10-year probablility of a fracture (mine was 12.6%).

Whatever, keep on walking and taking those Ca etc. supplements.

VascodaGama said:

HT is risky and may lead to Osteoperosis

Freddy

Hormonal treatments are risky for bone deterioration and PCa likes to spread to “freaky” bone. It is common for doctors to add a bisphosphonate to the HT protocol, such as Fosamax pills, of patients that have taken HT drugs on/off for several years, which has been your case since 2010. Prolia or Zoladex are recommended in PCa patients as injection or through DV. Supplements and typical diets are palliative ways to protect bone before these become at high risk. Commonly one takes vitamin D plus calcium tablets, and eat loads of fatty fish, dark-leafy greens, etc.
Bisphosphonates may become prejudice if taken during long periods and may cause Osteonecrosis of the Jaw. It is recommendable to have tooth repairs before embarking of bisphosphonate treatments.

Here are materials for you to read;

http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/calcium-rich-foods#1

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1447355-overview

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/cancer-questions/about-bisphosphonates-and-jaw-problems

The best way to find your bone health status is to submit to a DEXA scan that most health insurances cover. Even if one has to pay out of his pocket such densitometry scan is a cheap procedure worth all pennies spent on it. As older as we get the condition is poor and PCa treatments will still turn it worsen. I have osteopenia at -1.2 (osteoporosis starts at -2.5) so that I am attentive to what I eat.

Best wishes in your continuing journey,

VGama

...when I caught myself as I fell after tripping one morning while on my daily 7 mile run with my Labrador Retreiver. I hit the sidewalk with both palms and forearms down, was moving at about 6 mph. Broke a metatarsal, shattered a knuckle beyond repair and cracked my ulna all of the way through. Hurt pretty bad for a long time.

I am 200 pounds though, weight lifter and black belt karateka. My bones were somewhat heavier than most folks before PCa treatments due to 45 years of power breaking practice, when I got the bone scan they had reverted to "normal". The docs gave me Prolia to go along with the Eligard every 6 months. The side effects from that were as unpleasant as the ADT chemo, radiation and surgery. I quit my board breaking practice 2 & 1/2 years ago, but plan to get back to that as soon as my testosterone comes back up from "undetectable". Still run and lift weights, but the results are far from what they used to be without the chems. I too take a calcium + vitamin D suppliment. Hopefully this October's blood test will show some level of T...and NO detectable PSA.

I was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis and osteopenia after a dexascan.  The osteoporosis is in the hip and osteopenia in the spine.  My MD thinks I could benefit from Alendronate which I am taking once a week.  In 2016  I had casodex and lupron for 3 months and then radiation.  My testosterone level has just recently entered low normal range. PSA is undetectable.   No side effects from the alendronate so far but it has only been 3 weeks.  I have been taking vit D for 7+ years for low calcium.  I am not taking calcium supplements since there is some doubt about their efficacy.  My MD feels it is more beneficial to get calcium in the diet although this is sometimes problematic and hard to know if you are getting enough.  Guess I will find out at next years dexascan..  Good luck to you all on your journey.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/calcium-supplements-should-you-take-them