DEXA Scan -- how often after how many years?

Anonymous

After being diagnosed 11 years ago, I am not currently seeing oncologist. I was doing a few DEXA scans in the past, but wonder how many of you are doing the scans after 10 plus years and how often? I wasn't advised to do future scans after the last one.

Another question I would have is are the serious side effects of drugs like Boniva or Prolia worth the benefits?

Shelly

Spookiesmom

Medicare will only allow them every 2 years. To the date, not month, as I found out the hard way. My DH has bone Mets, is on Prolia doing well. I refuse it.

MinusTwo

I get a DEXA every two years. Chemo threw me into full-on osteoporosis. And that's with no hormone treatments since I was ER/PR negative. Prolia shots every 6 months have brought my numbers up to only osteopenia & my bones are still getting better over 4 years. I have no side effects from the Prolia, but you should be aware you can't do dental extractions w/o risk.

SpecialK

shelly - most get DEXA scans done every two years, unless there is a pressing reason to get them within that interval. I only had to do that once, when I had sudden onset hip pain. I was on Prolia at the time and a rare side effect is avascular necrosis, so my MO ordered a DEXA. Insurance did cover it since it was not a routine exam. Turned out I had an unknown, as in I didn't realize it happened, hip injury with stress tears to the muscle and trochanteric bursitis - fixed with physical therapy. Here are a couple of links with guidelines about who should get exams, and when they should be done. I mentioned Prolia - I was osteopenic prior to diagnosis with breast cancer, and had been for a number of years, and it was untreated because I could not tolerate oral medication due to an unrelated GI surgery for severe reflux. At that time military medical facilities (where I received care) did not infuse Reclast, so I did not treat the osteopenia because it was stable. Femara and chemo caused an acceleration in bone loss relatively quickly so I went on Prolia, and I did very well on it for six years - regaining enough bone to fall into the normal classification, with no side effects from the injection. My most recent DEXA, a little over a year ago, showed no loss even though I had stopped Prolia a year prior. I would suggest looking at these links, as well as calculating your FRAX score - linked the calculator for you, the calculator itself is up in the top navigation bar.

https://www.nof.org/patients/diagnosis-information/bone-density-examtesting/

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2015/0815/p261.html

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/FRAX/

sugarplum

I've been on Arimidex for over 13 years and since I'm osteopenic, still get annual DEXA scans which my insurance generously pays for. I had 6 annual Reclast infusions but they stopped making any difference so I quit getting them several years ago. The only time I had side effects was after the first infusion (slight temp and aches) but the other 5 were non-events...

Julie

NancyD

I get a DEXA scan every two years and my GP is usually the one who orders it. It has been ordered by my MO in the past, but it really doesn't matter. They both get reports for their records.

Anonymous

Spookiesmom: Am so sorry that your DH suffers bone mets. Did your onc or GP want you to be on Prolia and you decided against because of possible SE's? I am not good at remembering to take meds of any kind.

SpecialK: Thank you for your input and the links you provided! Due to having to switch between health insurance providers, literally "year to year" it's been a challenge for each set of specialists to keep up with me. I do think I'm going to look into the DEXA as soon as the U.S. gets COVID19 under control.

Sugarplum: I was convinced to stop taking Femara last doctor visit due to the damage to my bones, plus no credible data that suggests any benefit of taking it past 10 years from diagnosis. I fell two years ago and broke my tibia & fibula, which tells me my bones were pretty bad while on it.

Thanks everyone! Be well.