Accrete D3 tablets

Jaydee

Haven't been on these forums for a long time as it has now been over 7 years since my lumpectomy and I got so much help from reading how others coped with their breast cancer problems.  Why I am here now is because after I finished taking Arimidex over two years ago I am still being prescribed Accrete D3 tablets because a scan showed several years ago that I had ostopaenia but have had no further scans and wonder if these tablets can be prescribed indefinitely.  I am in the UK and I have approached my GP who says it is a query for the Hospital and they in turn don't seem to be able to come up with anything other than "ask your GP!".  Will carry on taking them if they're serving any purpose but surely everything has side effects if not strictly necessary.  Any help welcome.
Regards to all.

tgtg

Jaydee--I'm not a physician, but I can relay what my breast surgeon said to me this week when I told him i had been started on 1000 IU of vitamin D3 for lowish D levels. He said, "Great. I should take them myself, especially in the winter when we just don't get much sun naturally. D3 is the only supplement worth taking by people who eat a nutritionally well-balanced diet." Whether this applies to Accrete, I have no idea. Or is Accrete just a UK brand name? TG

Jaydee

Hi tgtg - Accrete D3 is a combination of Vit D3 (400 IU) and Calcium 600mg. tablets which are taken twice a day.  Quite happy to take them whilst on Arimidex but find that in the 2 years since I stopped so has the care!   I attend the hospital for a "Check-up" once a year as I was on the Targit trial - targeted intraoperative radiotherapy and feel they just box tick.  As I said the GP said to ask at next appointment which isn't until November and the hospital say that they're not sure as I'm on a trial.  Apparently there are now some studies that show this combination can lead to heart problems so I don't want to fight one battle and start with another.  The easy way would be to have a bone scan or bloods taken but that's asking for the moon. NHS were very good at time of diagnosis and treatment but think I found more information on these boards than I have ever had from my GP.

tgtg

Hi, Jaydee--I have been told that high blood calcium levels can be problematic, both for heart disease and breast cancer. My surgeon also pointed out, however, that vitamin D3 is beneficial in maintaining heart health (which I have also seen in the medical literature), and I passed along to you what he says about the D3 alone. I don't take calcium supplements, since my bones are not an issue, so I can't speak to that.

It really sounds as if your biggest problem is with getting straight answers--or any at all--from the NHS. Bureaucracy--don't you love it? It's a perfect way to dodge issues, in any country, but when it obfuscates health care it is truly frustrating. Perhaps you could seek a consult abroad, on the Continent maybe, to get some guidance? I know several Canadians who come south to the US to skirt the national health system there and to get information and treatment more quickly! TG

Hopeful82014

That's not a very large dosage of D...

Calcium, magnesium and D work best together (per my gastroenterologist). The amounts in the supplement probably aren't high enough to affect heart health but will help maintain bone health, which is as vital as cardiac health.

Jaydee

Thanks for the above posts.  Think it all comes down to weighing all the pros & cons.  Was quite happy taking the calcium & vitamin D whilst on the Arimidex as could see the point of it.  Now though it's so frustrating trying to get a Doctor to discontinue it if not required - no wonder the NHS is short of money if there are lots of people on medicine which they just get on repeat prescription indefinitely and no longer need it!  Anyway I shouldn't knock the NHS as they were fantastic when I needed them most at time of diagnosis.  Reassured to hear that the dose of calcium and Vit D I'm taking is quite small and also in reply to TG I think I will consult with my daughter's Specialist in Spain when I visit in the next few months.  Yes you pay but you get an almost instant answer to your queries.  Best wishes: Jaydee