Hi all. Was sent for a bone density scan and was advised that I wouldn’t need Zoledronic if the scan was normal. This was back in May and all was good. Just had my annual consultation with oncology where they said oh yes we’re going to schedule you in for the zoledronic acid. Now I don’t know which consultant is right. I’m post menopausal. The recent person said oh it’s because the lump was quite large and had spread to your lymph nodes.
It hadn’t spread I had microscopic bits that meant they were happy it hadn’t spread. Tbh this consult has scared me. Any advice appreciated. I am post menopause
Hi
It was put to me, that the ovary suppression and AI tablets very quickly deplete your body of Estrogen. One of the longer term side effects is reduced bone density of which Zoledronic acid is very good at controlling. The other advantage is that it can help reduce the possibility of cancer growing on the bone.
Because I just turned 50 and pre menopause, my Onco considered me young enough to benefit from the extra “bone” boost. The principle was that I would have naturally be producing estrogen for longer, had I not been on cancer treatment and bone loss would occur slower and later on in life. I also had LVI (cancer cells in blood vessels) but lymph nodes clear. Unfortunately there no guarantees there are no stray cancer cells. Having LVI I felt that was an extra known risk. So when ZA was discussed it was a “yes” from me (and worried about the possibility of teeth/jaw necrosis afterwards!).
In your case, perhaps both the radiologist and Onco are/were right. It could be that your bone density is fine right now, but as you continue on treatment your Onco is planning preventative treatment to keep it that way.
I have had my first infusion of zoledronic acid and i will have one every 6 months for 3 years. It wiped me out for 2 days afterwards but then it was fine. I understood the zoledronic acid is to protect the bones during breast cancer treatment? Im currently on letrozole and abemaciclib.
My issue is I had one oncologist say I didn’t need it if bone density was fine. The second oncologist was over the phone. They didn’t even provide my mammogram results which is what i was expecting. Just didn’t feel that they’d even read my notes
I see where you are coming from, my first Onco (a temp) told me I would have a Radiotherapy Boost, Tamoxifen and ZA. The second and my normal Onco said no to the boost, changed Tamoxifen to Exemestane and added Zoladex to the list. I didn’t like the first Onco…and glad she was only a temp.
Probably best to talk it out with them, and ask them to explain why the mismatch of info.
Best wishes x
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