I have a new total hip- now facing Chemo Share any experiances?

CCBoise

I have a new R. total hip replacement 4.28.08 now I've had a modified radical mast. and the oncol. recommends Tax/Cytox.   I'm concerned about damaging the hip, bone, rejection, etc.

Anyone with any experiance or knowledge?

trk_koa

My hip was replaced in '94 (when I was 33) so it was 11 years in when I had chemo. I didn't have any problems at all. I do take 1200 mg of calcium per day now. My GYN said that I should have a bone density test but the insurance here doesn't pay for it unless you have a "problem", whatever that means.  I saw her a couple weeks ago and she said they were going to put in the paperwork to try to get the test pre-approved.

What I would be sure to ask the docs about is risk of infection. I know that the first few years after my prosthesis was put in, I had to take antibiotics for dental work to prevent a bone infection in that hip.

lisa-e

I had a total hip replacement on 4/2/08. I was diagnosed with bc in 6/08.



I saw my orthopedic surgeon before my mastectomy for a routine check and discussed chemotherapy with him. He said that chemotherapy would not effect my hip - that after 6 weeks or so new bone had formed around the implant. He did say I should be careful about maintaining my bone density as I was peri-menoplausal or menoplausal. I had a bone density test, which was on the high end of normal for my age and started taking 1500 mg of calcium and 600 mg of vitamin D. The other thing my orthopedic surgeon said that loosing weight was the best thing I could do for the longevity of my hip.



As it turned out I did not have chemotherapy. I am taking tamoxifen now and will have another bone density test in two years.



When I had the pre-op physical for my hip replacement I was reminded that I really should have a mammogram and pap smear. I had the pap smear before the hip replacement, but put off the mammogram until after the hip replacement. My flipant comment at the time was that I didn't want a diagnosis of breast cancer to interfer with the new hip. Prescient, I think . . .

CCBoise

Thank you Lisa-e and Trk_Koa-  I met today with a Cancer counselor specialist and also received a call from a nutritionist I had left messages with.. then on to my oncol. appt.   I'm set to go  I start Chem on Fri.  So, now I get my household in order and food stuffs lined up.  What a way to start the new year, eh?   I'm really ready to get it started and be on the other side.  I know we are to live in each day, they are presents..this will be a real new experiance and I hope to live up to the challenge with courage, dignity and joy.