osteopenia - freaking out a little

Camama2

I just got home from having a dexa scan and was told I have osteopenia with a measurement of negative 2.3.  I am 52 and went into "chemo-pause" at 49 during treatment.  The physician assistant I saw said she was surprised at the number because of my age but that it was probably from chemo.  I'm a little freaked out now because from the little online reseach I have done I can see it is normal to have bone loss with the usual treatment for er/pr+ but not so much just from chemo.  My husband wondered if having this means if I get bone mets it will spread quicker?  The woman said this doesn't mean anything one way or another about cancer but I'm kinda scared.  I am usually very positive but my head is swirling.  Any advice?

Laurie 

hollyann

Laurie, the PA is right.........Osteopenia doesn't mean bone mets will spread quicker.....It just means the bones are a little thinner than normal  pre-osteoporosis........There are new drugs you can take to strengthen your bones at this point.....Also ask about taking a calcium supplement such as Oscal......I take calcium everyday and it has helped strengthen my bones.....I have arthritis so I have to take calcium too........Good luck to you .....

Maryiz

Laurie, don't freak about the ostopenia.  It happens in women without BC.  My sister in law was diagnosed with it in her hip.  She exercises like a maniac and eats the healthiest diet of any woman I know.  Yet, she still has it.  It hasn't affected her at all.  She still exercises about 2 hours a day and is fine.  Also, many bone building drugs out there to restore.  So, take a deep breath. Maryiz

FloridaLady

Laurie, Did you have a scan before treatment...to show baseline?  I was wondering if you could have had this already and chemo made it worst??? Are you using Zometa? Has your doctor spoke to you about it? Does the side effect never stop??

I just read something on this...I will go and look it up.

Flalady

jeanne46

I had osteopenia for years following cancer treatment in early 90's.  Took fosamax and it really stabilized the bone loss.  It shouldn't have any effect on the spread or not of bone mets.  Talk with your doc.  You may want to start taking something like fosamax or boniva or some other oral bisphosphonate along with a calcium supplement.  There seems to be deffering points of view on which calcium supplement is best. I used to take calcium citrate.  In any case, just make sure it dissolves.

slanderson

Just take Fosamax, do free weights 3 times a week and you'll get better.  Oh, and walk everyday.

Shannon

Erica3681

Laurie,

There are some recent studies suggesting that bisphosphonates can actually protect against bone mets (and since bone mets are often the first site of mets, maybe even protect against all mets). So, you might want to talk to your pcp or even your oncologist about taking Fosamax or other bisphosphonate to strengthen your bones and maybe at the same time prevent mets.

Barbara