Fosamax or Prolia?

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited May 2016 in Bone Health and Bone Loss

Not for me, but for my mom. She has been on Femara since Summer 2014 for Stage I, highly hormone positive cancer. A DEXA scan in Sept. showed a concerning loss in bone density and she was put on Fosamax, a pill once a week. Since starting it, she had bad flu-like symptoms the day or so after she took it. She stopped taking it maybe six weeks ago, on the advice of her PCP. I was wondering if Prolia might be a better option for her since it's only given every six months (so she only has to deal with the side effects twice a year as opposed to every month). Also, it has the benefit of helping prevent bone mets in post menopausal women. Any thoughts on Prolia

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  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited December 2015

    There are several topics posted here for Prolia. It is certainly another option for someone who cannot tolerate the oral medications.

    http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/prolia-l...


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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited December 2015

    bad - I have been on Prolia for several years.  I was osteopenic prior to BC diagnosis due to an early hyst/ooph.  After chemo and six months of Femara I had demonstrated loss after remaining relatively stable for years.  I have no side effects from Prolia and is reversed my loss - I now have normal bone density.  Prolia is a different drug mechanism from Fosamax so the side effects may be different for your mom. Fosamax coats the bone, but Prolia slows the old bone removal mechanism, allowing the new bone to catch up.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2016

    thanks K! Interesting about how the drugs work differently...I sent her an article from SABCS and she's going to talk to her onc about it next month. She's pretty low risk for recurrence but 100%ER+ so staying on AIs is critical.

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  • LisaAlissa
    LisaAlissa Member Posts: 1,092
    edited January 2016

    Just to chime in, with a similar diagnosis, my Mom's MO put her on both Femara and Prolix from the get-go, as well as 1000 IUs of D3. Mom has never reported any adverse effects (other than discomfort during the injection itself...which is less if it's administered very, very slowly).

    Best wishes to your mom (and happy new year!),

    LisaAlissa

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2016

    I never updated due to my own brain mets situation, but mom indeed get on Prolia without issue. Her symptoms overall have gotten better, although some aches and pains remain (likely due to Femara and aging). And the prevention of bone mets in post-menopausal women aspect is a big plus. It's bad enough we have a family oncoparty going on, I really don't want her to join me in Club Mets..

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