Really!.....osteopenia, fibrosis and necrosis

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jennyboog
jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
edited September 2016 in Stage III Breast Cancer

So here's the story....after having some sharp pains in my chest/clavicle area for a while now. I reluctantly decided to tell my MO, she did a CT scan and bone density (due anyway) and I prepared for the worse. After only 5 years on Aromasin, it's happening, osteopenia. I just did a density scan 3 years ago and I was fine....that was quick! As for the clavicle they said it's radiation induced fibrosis to chest and necrosis of the clavicle. I'm already on a beta-blocker because rads damaged my heart (which they won't admit to but I know). I'm only 40! I start Prolia next week :( It never ends, first you fight to live then you live to fight. Thanks for listening.

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited September 2016

    I'm really sorry. That's a lot to bear.

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  • Jenwith4kids
    Jenwith4kids Member Posts: 635
    edited September 2016

    hi Jenny,

    Can you elaborate on your heart damage? I was just diagnosed with cardiomyopathy - we think from chemo, but I suppose it could be from radiation.... started a beta blocker today.

    Thanks!

    Jen

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  • kar123
    kar123 Member Posts: 273
    edited September 2016

    So sorry Jenny! Sympathizing with you! I'm starting to feel the pain from the letrozole. It's everyday from morning til night now. Fingers, hands, feet, , knees, hips, you name it, it hurts. I could deal with it for a few years, but now it's constant. I won't go off it, but it just really sucks!

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  • Jenwith4kids
    Jenwith4kids Member Posts: 635
    edited September 2016

    Karen, have you tried to take magnesium? I find that it helps with theach joint pain.

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited September 2016

    Thanks everyone...sorry it's been so long since I replied. About the heart damage, I have v-tach. It started about a year out of tx. it kept getting worse, just random episodes of fluttering. Wore the monitor and they were able to catch it when it happened so, now I take a beta-blocker. Cardiologist wouldn't say for sure it was chemo and rads but said it didn't help. The beta-blocker sure makes me "chill" which can be a good and bad thing :) But it has helped with the fluttering. My intermammary nodes were + so they had no choice but hit my heart and they warned me ahead of time. Who knows, it is what it is...guess I was having myself a pity party last week. Don't get me wrong I'm so happy that's all it is, just sad things keep coming up for us all.

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited September 2016

    I'm sorry, Jennyboog--seems like BC's the wretched gift that just keeps on giving. I've been on Prolia for a year now and it hasn't been an issue for me (at least, not yet...). I hope it plumps up your bones. The VT flutters must be mondo annoying!

    Isn't it odd that all these issues are "unrelated" to BC treatment? My thyroid died in the middle of rads; it was a "coincidence."

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  • Jenwith4kids
    Jenwith4kids Member Posts: 635
    edited September 2016

    Thanks Jennyboog. My LVEF is at 37% so I just started a beta blocker and in another two weeks they will add an ace inhibitor. My cardiologist thinks it's related to treatment and has suggested that I also see a cardiologist who has oncology experience. I'll do that once I get these meds at the right dose. The first night I took the betablocker I felt tired and my workout the next day was harder than normal but I plowed through and now I feel okay. Just in time to up the dose! I guess it takes a while to get the dosage right. My hard rate still hasn't come down under 94 or 95 on a regular basis; Looking forward to having that back to normal.

    My recent dexa scan also showed osteopenia in my lumbar spine that wasn't there two years ago... thank you very much, Femara.

    sbelizabeth you are right - the gift that keeps on giving. sucks.

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