Hi everyone
Started radiotherapy 1st Oct had 7 sessions out of 20 getting used to the machine now staff are lovely also starting Letrozole soon but haven’t been given a DEXA scan? Like some of you but have been advised to have zoledronic acid bit frightened about the side effects. I had a lumpectomy end of March and HER2+. had 4x chemo and 7x Herceptin but this damaged my heart so having a break at the moment. Seeing how everyone is getting on really helps on this unexpected journey.
xxx
Hi Spicey,
Just popped over from the Radiotherapy Starters October 2019 thread as I saw your message. You are welcome to join the thread too if you want to. Have you had sessions all over the weekend as well? Are you going to have any breaks? Most units seem to do Monday - Friday sessions. It sounds quite tough to have treatment so many days without a break.
I didn’t need chemo, thankfully, but had been on Letrozole to shrink tumours prior to lumpectomy. I haven’t had any side effects. I had been expecting to have DEXA scan before, or soon after, I went on Letrozole but the consultant wasn’t in any hurry to order it. My GP offered to refer me so I had the scan about three months after I had started on the drugs. The DEXA scan did show some osteopenia and osteoporosis so I was put on weekly Alendronic Acid tablets to strengthen them, which is similar to Zoledronic acid as Letrozole can thin the bones further. I think the dosage is lower for osteoporosis rather than for bone strengthening to protect against secondaries. I think serious side effects are pretty rare. I had a dental check up and hygienist appointment before I started the tablets so that any treatment could be carried out beforehand.
I hope you are doing okay on, as you say, your unexpected journey. You’ve not had an easy time.
Sandpiper
x
Hi Spicey
I think we have to be alerted to possible side effects and inevitably we imagine the worst. I get a side effect just walking into a pharmacy and I can say that, after 2 zometa infusions (the zoledronic acid), I’m fine. A bit of fatigue for a couple of days but nothing more. I feared all sorts of horrors but I consulted a dentist attached to my practice who works with cancer patients and he assured me the side effects are rare, only occur if a patient has a dental extraction and even then it rarely happens. He did explain how it happens. His advice was good oral hygiene, regular dental checks and not delaying any treatment (he found 2 tiny fillings, to my frustration). The benefits are strong, reducing the risk of a recurrence in the bones so, for me, it was a no-brainer after putting myself through chemo and radiotherapy. Obviously we each have to make our own choices but I hope this helps to reassure you.
Jan