Alendronic acid and Anastrozole
Posted , 5 users are following.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer August 2017 which is also estrogen positive. This means I now have to take the hormone therapy drug Anastrozole which depletes bone density. Hence I was sent for a dexa scan. It came back I was age related osteoporotic. I’m 65. I have to take the Anastrozole and no way will stop it as it is best for helping to stop recurrence of my breast cancerwhich I am free of at the moment
I took 2 doses of AA and then felt quite ill with thick head/pressure in head/light headed/awful palpitations/shaky etc. Also had awful acid for 2 days. I didn’t take 3rd dose and gradually felt better but took weeks to feel right. GP said it wasn’t side effects as would have happened sooner.!
We agreed I would wait until felt well and then try again. I restarted and took a dose Saturday gone and this afternoon (Monday) I have the shaky/head pressure symptoms etc again but not the palpitations. I don’t want to feel ill like this but worried about fractures as the Anastrozole speeds the depletion of bone density by 2.5 times.
At the moment my T scores are:
AP spine -2.8
Rt Hip -2.6
Rt. Femoral -2.3
Apparently I have 10% chance of femoral fracture in next 10 years so GP said but the Anastrozole would/could speed that up.
Has anyone had these side effects or are on Anastrozole? Does anyone know what I can do to lessen the effects of the Anastrozole on the bone density please. What I mean is does anyone know please what I can do to increase density and not have to take Alendronic Acid. I’m doing weight bearing expertise’s but that’s all I know. Oncologist and GP say certain foods won’t help and only exercise. Not sure I believe that.
Any help or ideas would be gratefully received. Sorry for long post.
Love Frances xxx
0 likes, 18 replies
deb1712 frances333
Posted
best wishes
deb
frances333 deb1712
Posted
I would be happy not to take AA or anything similar if it wasn’t for what the Anastrozole can do to the bone density.
Will do my best with exercise and anything else I can find to reduce the loss that Anastrozole might have.
Take care
Frances xxx
kathleen65757 frances333
Posted
Maybe do the natural route seeing as how your tscores are not too bad.
Vitamin K2 aims the calcium onto the bones. Check your vitamin D3 levels as that affects bone health when there is a deficiency. Same thing goes for magnesium.
Some things to include in your diet include yoghurt, avocado, leafy greens, fruit and vegetables, bony broth, prunes and cucumbers.
Weight bearing exercise like walking is also important. Building muscle that will support your bones is a good idea as well.
Of course avoiding breast cancer is your priority.
There is much you can do for sure.
frances333 kathleen65757
Posted
I would be happy not to take AA if I could stop or slow down the decrease in bone density from Anastrozole naturally. Except for bony broth and avocado I eat all the other things regularly. I have just bought a mini stepper with resistance cords as I know weight bearing exercise is very good. I needed something that was portable and could be stored out of the way but something I could do watching TV or a dvd to take mind off that I was exercising. I live on my own so need all the motivation I can muster.
I am also looking at Vit K but only just learning there is K1 and K2.
Love Frances xxx
kathleen65757 frances333
Posted
I have resisted taking the drugs with worse tscores than yours.
In about a year I will check my tscores again.
deb1712 frances333
Posted
kathleen65757 deb1712
Posted
Anhaga frances333
Posted
One more point, apparently taking your calcium supplement with a little yoghurt is very good for encouraging calcium metabolism, one more arrow in our arsenal to defeat osteoporosis!
frances333 Anhaga
Posted
Hope everyone is having a lazy Sunday.
Hugs
Frances xxx
Anhaga frances333
Posted
Better ask Kathleen about how to deal with oxtail bones. I'm a) a vegetarian and b) live in North America where delights such as oxtail are rare (although with British background I am not unaware of oxtail soup having had it frequently when a child).
deb1712 frances333
Posted
frances333 Anhaga
Posted
I realised afterwards I should have asked Kathleen, but thank you for letting me know.
Thanks
Frances
frances333 deb1712
Posted
I have some packets of gelatine and make it up with a fruit cordial. I have it as a snack or dessert with some Greek yoghurt. I steer clear of jelly that has sucrolose or aspartame in as it upsets me and the block jelly hits the roof as far as weight watchers are concerned as it’s full of sugar.
Love Frances x
kathleen65757 frances333
Posted
the fat is easy to remove after it has been in the fridge overnight.
frances333
Posted
Happened to see and oxtail in Sainsbury’s so decided to buy it and put in slow cooker tomorrow. Was very expensive but thought I would do it once. I live in a village and will ask my little butcher if he has bones. Some places keep them for people to make soups or a nice marrow bone for a dog.
I am so very grateful for all your help and please share if you think of anything else. Anyone know if I can get all my Vit.K 2 naturally or will I need a supplement?
love Frances xxx
Anhaga frances333
Posted
If you have access to grassfed animal products (meat, dairy, eggs), that is animals who have never been grainfed, not even "finished" with grain, you will get Vitamin K2 from those products. Animals make this vitamin but on a grain diet they don't make enough to satisfy our needs. We also make a little in our own gut but not very efficiently, and fermented foods (like yoghurt but there are many others) contain some Vitamin K2. In fact the source for the supplements is a Japanese fermented soy product called natto. It is, apparently, an acquired taste, but it is very high in K2 and would only need to be eaten once a week or so. Haven't encountered it myself but recently someone posted that they's bought some and managed to eat a helping. They think they will be able to carry on! Vitamin K1 is, of course, readily available in our leafy greens and some other foods, but it doesn't help the bones the same way K2 does.
kathleen65757 frances333
Posted