More Afraid of Prolia than Anastrozole

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Mstein1970
Mstein1970 Member Posts: 48
edited October 2018 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis 3 years before I was diagnosed with BC. My bone density, while bad, has remained the same since the original osteoporosis diagnosis. So far I've refused to take a bone-building drug, but now that I'm in my second month on anastrozole, the doctors (MO, endocrinologist) are pretty insistent that I start Prolia injections.

What I read about Prolia and the other bone-building drugs makes me doubt their value. They all seem to build denser, but not quality, bone -- because they let old, weak bone stay in place. And in my view, what good is denser but weaker bone? Plus, now there's a brand new study from England that has discovered dangerous tiny cracks in the bone sustained by bone-building drugs.

My doctors deny that Prolia-caused jaw necrosis and fractures are likely for me, saying they occur in people getting higher, more frequent doses of the drug. But reports I've read say otherwise.

I'm seeing an integrative medicine specialist and new physical therapist this week. But I doubt they'll contradict the advice of the MO and endocrinologist. And I know diet, supplements and exercise may be no match for the anastrozole's effect on my bones.

Also, because I'm post-menopausal, I want to stick with the anastrozole, rather than try tamoxifen, because I know anastrozole will be more effective in preventing metastasis/recurrence. So far I've tolerated it fairly well.

Does anyone have advice on this?

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  • Peaceful02
    Peaceful02 Member Posts: 6
    edited October 2018

    I also have been recently told by my onc that I need to start getting Prolia injections. I was just diagnosed in August with a small DCIS Stage 0 - lumpectomy - no radiation. Started anastrozole a week ago. Just got bone density scan results - was osteopenia but now have full blown osteoporosis in lumbar region. Because anastrozole can thin bones onc feels I should get Prolia. I've searched the internet and really can't find anything positive in regards to this drug but so much negative stuff - side effects that evidently don't always resolve even after you no longer get the injections. I'm very confused. I have an appointment this week with my ocn and I'm going to ask about switching to Tamoxifen which supposedly helps bone density. I have had a total hysterectomy so I'm not concerned about the potential of cervical or uterine cancer which leaves the most concerning side effect with Tamoxifen being possible blood clots and/or stroke.

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  • muska
    muska Member Posts: 1,195
    edited October 2018

    Mstein, what your MO told you sounds right to me.

    I started Prolia over two years ago and my bone density is now better than it was before my I started BC treatment. No side effects from Prolia so far. My MO recommends I stay on it for now - primarily because of reassuring study results showing lower incidence of bone mets in patients staying on Prolia.

    If you have any specific questions please ask.

    Best

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  • Peaceful02
    Peaceful02 Member Posts: 6
    edited October 2018

    Seeing my onc tomorrow. Spoke to my dentist yesterday regarding taking Prolia. He all but said "please don't take it". He said before getting any injections he would want to do a very thorough dental exam and extensive x-rays even though I faithfully see him every six months. I happen to still have my wisdom teeth and he said before getting Prolia I would need to have them extracted! Yikes! He said he has several patients who are on it or have been on it and have experienced severe jaw problems when requiring dental procedures. After much research, I stopped taking Anastrozole Sunday and I'm going to ask my onc tomorrow for a prescription for Tamoxifen which supposedly helps bones. I don't see anything positive about take a drug that "thins bones" when I now know I have osteoporosis. I took Fosamax years ago and had gastric problems and inflammation and GI doctor said I had to stop taking it. Guess I'm going to have to research how to strengthen bones naturally and with calcium and D which I have been taking for years.

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