Bisphosphonates

Hello ladies. Bisphosphonates have been in the news lately. They stop spread to bones but (according to Daily Mail!) need to be started within six months of diagnosis to be effective. I asked my onc about them when we met a month ago and he thought it might not be a bad idea if I had them

(don’t know if he would have suggested them!). I was diagnosed April last year so have passed six months (I hadn’t read six month thing then, but he didn’t mention it). I’m not sure if NHS will pay so might have to fund myself although. Any thoughts? Debbie

I read the article myself and I think I worked it out at £13.77 a month for cost … I would pay myself if I thought it would benefit. Perhaps I need to speak to my onc also

Hi ladies,

I was put on bisphonsphonates straight away by my oncologist as, if I remember rightly, should it reappear, 50% of the time it tends to go to the bones.

Not everyone is likely to be suitable for bisphosphonates, due to possible underlying health conditions. And taking them can dissrupt your daily eating pattern, too. Most NHS authorities now fund this drug, although not all of them do. Not sure about the 6 month bit though. Theoretically it should not make too much of a difference, as long as one does not start a year or so post active treatment. But then, I am not a medical person…

I hope for you both that yours does. It is not a guarantee, but it betters our chances for it not to come back in our bones. There are a number of different types, so I would suggest to talk to your BCN/oncologist, so the right one gets prescribed for you.

Being on Letrozole I am also getting precscriptions for Calcium and vitamin D.

So my treatment team is certainly doing everything in the book to make sure I stay healthy!

Sue x