Anyway, the reason I am writing in is that a while back a friend who had had BC nearly a decade ago and had the same onc as me began to suffer a few months ago from pains in her hip. The pains were so bad that she was limping around and using a walking stick. She was so afraid of secondardies and more chemo that she didn’t want to go back to the onc. Anyway, when she went back to her onc it turned out that she didn’t have secondaries, but she had developed serious bone problems, partly from her arimidex. One of her problems is osteoporosis. She is really miffed because she probably could have avoided some of her current bone problems by taking calcium supplements, especially since she was avoiding dairy. Also, she wishes she had known more about the effect of treatment on her bones and how to protect them. And the odd thing is that this guy has written an article about bone health, so it’s not that he is unaware of the problem. So, please ask your onc about bone health issues, especially if you are on arimidex and similar drugs or if your chemotherapy might have put you into the menopause.
Hi Christine,
thanks for your post - I have posted something related to this in undergoing hormone treatment- OSTEOPOROSIS- ADVICE PLEASE. I have a similarish story and really think there needs to be raised awareness amongst medical staff about this because there seems to be different management for this. Sorry this message is hurried- I’m off to the shops but just wanted to quickly put this on.
When my mum was prescribed Femara, she was prescribed chewy calcium tablets at the same time. She has had several falls (age related) and no harm has come to her, so they seem to be working. She takes 2 a day. Think they are called Adcal.
I had BC last year with rads in Jan/Feb this year due to complications e.g phlebitis,pul.embolism and a mild heart attack I had to come off Tamoxefen in May. As I finally get my life on track again I’m beginning to think about the future options which I know the ONC has indicated we will discuss in December of this year.
Your thread really interested me I think it was Arimidex that he mentioned we might trial to see how I get on!! I know I need to be aware of side effects especially thinning of the bones but what else.
Can anyone please help to arm me with good awarenss of the possibilities of other problems.
I started Arimidex last September. When I saw the Onc a month later she reccommended I have a bone density scan and start taking Adcal which was on prescription. Have to say I found the Adcal thoroughly unpalatable so changed it to a soluble tablet which is better. I’m still not great at taking them though. Arimidex does cause aches and pains and since I started taking it I have a dodgy knee and painful hips. Although I was told it would mainly affect my feet and hands, I haven’t found this to be the case.
You can get calcium from other foods beside dairy, leafy green veg, tinned fish like sardines, salmon, nuts and figs are good sources too.
I’ve only just found this forum.
I was diagnosed with BC in Oct 09 had 2 operations by January, Chemo at the end of Feb which I had a very bad reaction to and ended up back in hospital with Neutropena so once I got over that had to start Rads in April, I have now finished all my treatment and my oncologist put me on arimidex and at first I didn’t really have any problems, but the last month I have been suffering from bad pains in my bones, especially my back and knees.
Also I’m finding by breast is very tender (feels like its badly bruised)has anyone else noticed this as I never had this before I stated the Arimidex?
I have got to go back in November for a mammogram, hopefully for them to tell me all is ok.