Osteopenic question

I too am dx'd with osteopenia (at 45) and it's considered moderate along with arthritis. I am taking Arimidex as my oncologist thinks (hope he "knows") that I am in permanent menopause and he put me on 70mg of Fosamax that I take once a week to help build bone and instructed me to do weight bearing exercise.
Hope this helps...the Fosamax is supposed to work really well...don't know much about side effects except that you can't lay down for at least a half an hour after taking it as it can cause indigestion. I seem to be "achey" all over for a couple of days but I'm achey anyway so I don't know if that has anything to do with Fosamax or not.
Hugs and all the best to you
Vickie

This is a BIG concern of mine too. I had my first dexa scan which comes back indicating I am osteopenic. It does NOT say borderline, moderate...nothing like that though?

But it does say "the total hips are 78% of young normal or 1.8 standard deviations BELOW normal. Goes on to say this indicates osteopenia by WHO criteria. It says this indicates a doubling of HIP fracture. (I'm 49 so this really worries me.)

The Femara WAS mentioned on the report as a big RISK factor in this. It DOES recommend calcium, vitamin D, & addition of a bisphosphonate.

My oncologist did NOT seem to care which scares me. I asked her straight out if I should start on something? She said the calicum and vitamin D is enough for now. I read taking calium and vitamin D at my age AFTER the fact...meaning bones already damaged won't make any difference. But she doesn't care. So I am in the middle of changing doctors and can't wait to see what my NEW onc will say about this.

I would like to know how much taking femara REALLY keeps a recurrance away. I HATE taking this femara...its killing me. I hurt every where since starting it.

I have read that Tamoxifen is better on the bones...not near as bad as the AI's. Although there are side affects to tamoxifen too. (We can't win it seems.)

But all I can say as when it comes to MY onc...being osteopenic made NO difference in HER choice of hormonal therapy for me.

Chelee

I don't want to sound totally dense but can you elaborate on weight bearing exercises please. I am taking Arimidex for just about 1 month now after a year and a half of Tamoxifen. I take calcium, vit D and magnesium and I am going for a Bone density test in a week or so.
I hope it's not true that starting with those supplements is useless after the fact.

Thanks and best wishes, Tina

Tina, I was looking up stuff on google due to my Dexa scan report which said I should at the least start on calium and vitamin D. Even my oncologist said to start on that.

But I ran across two reputable websites that stated taking that now is of no help. That is something I wanted to ask my oncologist about. I find it hard to believe. I am sure it can't possible reverse the damage...but I would LIKE to think it at least prevents some. It certainly can't hurt. I know I ran out and got some "Caltrate" right anyway. It has the calicum and vitamin D & other good stuff in it. But it sure took the wind out of my sails when I read that. I am hoping what it really means is it won't change what is...but there has to still be some benefit? Lets all ask our onc doc's and see what they say.

Chelee

Chelee...my next appt. is December 6 and we have a physical therapy workshop for stroke victims where I work aso I will talk to them next week (they are students at Ithaca College and very good). I will let you know what hey say and figure out a plan.
Hugs all...we are stronger than we think we are.
Vickie

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I too want to know about these weight bearing exercises I keep hearing about on the boards. My onc never tells me anything. I don't know which ones I should be doing? But I want to do anything I can to help my bones at this point.

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Hi, ladies. I am NOT osteopenic, but I take Femara and Fosamax. I have taken them together since I was diagnosed with breast cancer. In addition, my onc prescribed 1,500mg of calcium, 750mg of magnesium and 1,000iu of vitamin D. It is VERY important to take both the calcium and magnesium. Your bones won't take up calcium without magnesium. This is where the reports that "calcium doesn't increase bone mass after 35" come from--they didn't give the right set of supplements. I split my dose of cal/mag into 3 and take them with each meal.

Be careful with taking supplements in "groups" like calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, boron..... You CAN get too much of some of these (copper, f'rinstance) and that would not be good.

And oh yes, don't take boron if you're er+. It increases your estrogen, which is what Femara is supposed to prevent.

As far as asking your onc, well, you can ask but it probably won't do you any good. Most oncs don't know a thing about supplements, and are way too busy to try to find out. That's why I go to Cancer Treatment Centers of America. My onc knows my naturopath--they actually sit and discuss stuff!

Hope this helps somebody. Feel free to ask questions. I'm not Edge, but I'll be happy to share what little I know.

I have osteopenia and the WHO recommendation is calcium and vitamin d. That's probably what any woman should take post menopause as osteoporosis is so prevalent. Then with my family history of osteoporsis and personal history of bc, I was given the option of taking a bisphosphonate and I took it. Actonel and Fosamax and Boniva are all bisphosphonates.

If you walk a lot at work, you're doing weight bearing exercise and that counts. Swimming does provide resistance exercise, but mostly in the upper body. If we break a wrist or arm we're laid up for a while. If we break a leg or a hip, for the older folks it can be the beginning of the end. So it's important to walk.

I'd be careful about adding weights to my wrists or ankles as this can cause problems in our arms and legs and even our backs.

Rose, That bums me out to hear that swimming & bike riding are NOT weight bearing excercise. Those TWO things are my FAVORITE when it comes to excercise. I appreciate that information Rose...I was hoping the biking WAS helping the bones...but I guess not. Its good for cardio..but thats it huh.


NewVickie, That sounds good. I am sure you can find some good excercises at that class for us. I will look forward to your post. Thanks so much.


Fancy, That is an interesting fact you mentioned. One I did NOT know. I never gave it any thought. So thats the whole point is to stress and use the bones. Which I would assume its like anything, "Use it or LOSE it". Right! Makes sense. I use to like walking but I have a bad lower back & I get *severe* spasms & pain. I was seeing a Neurologist BEFORE my bc DX for this problem. Thats why I ended up riding my bike more. Its easier on the back. I need to find some other weight bearing excercise I can do that isn't too hard on my lower back? Hopefully Vickie will find some for us. Maybe I should google it and see what I could up with.

Chelee

Ginger, That is a REAL concern to me also. Meaning adding weights to wrists & legs. Especially my right wrist which is the side I had the SNB. I was told NOT to do any heavy lifting with that arm...pulling or pushing. In fact I was told not to even carry anything heavier then a gallon of milk..and even then to be careful.

I need to find something that is semi safe as breaking a hip scares me to death. My Mother HAS broken BOTH of hers within the last 13 years. Her recovery was pure he$$. She was in her 70's...so it wasn't easy. She was so lopsided after they repaired her first hip. Then years later she broke the second hip in a fall and to this day has NEVER been able to walk WITHOUT her walker. She went through a really rough time with both hips...so I DON'T want to ever experience that. Thats what scared me when my DEXA scan said I have a double increase of hip fracture. I HAVE to do something to strengthen these hips and bones. I just CAN'T understand WHY my oncologist doesn't start me on anything? Makes absolutely NO sense! The report even RECOMMENDS I be started on something right away.

I am going to make some calls next week and see what I can find out about doing the RIGHT weight bearing excersises as this is so important for us gals.

Chelee

No offense to your oncologist, but isn't cancer his specality? I'd consult a trainer or PT about leg/wrist weights!

They used to be the thing, but lately the fitness world has moved away from that because they can distort your natural gait. Also if you have lymphedema concerns you want to do arm weights in a gentle way, working up to more weight.

Chelee,

I think I'd check with my PCP, sometimes they have advice and sometimes they can refer you to the appropriate PT. PT's are not all the same and even have their own little "specialties."

Lifting weights and walking with weights are too different activities, and lifting light weights seems reasonable to recover muscle mass if deemed appropriate by your doc. If fact, PT's will send your doc a treatment outline that the doc has to approve if there's any hope of insurance coverage.

It took awhile but I finally found out why we should take calcium at a different time then magnesium, Ca citrate slows magnesium absorption. Just when I thought I had it all down pat, then this pops up:

http://www.magnesiumresearchlab.com/Accounting%20for%20Mg,%20Calcium%20and%20Osteoporosis.htm

You'll have to copy and paste the full address.