Seeking advice: Balancing breast cancer treatment with osteoporosis concerns
Community Member
a year agoI have metastatic breast cancer and have one met site in the bone. I am her2 positive so I take Arimadex. I have been NED for 4 years. My problem is that I have Osteoporosis, and I had this before I had cancer. My mom died of it. I took Xgeva but got Osteonecrosis from the drug. My doctor is suggesting I quit taking Arimadex and take Tamoxifen instead because that doesn’t cause bone loss. My sister just died of a stroke, and Tamoxifen causes a greater chance of strokes. I may be able to take Perjeta along with my Herceptin instead of Arimadex. I wanted to ask if anyone else has this dilemma. What are you taking?
Accepted Answer
Balancing cancer treatment with other health conditions like osteoporosis creates such complex decisions that many in this community face. The combination of bone health concerns, family history, and treatment effectiveness makes this particularly challenging to navigate. Hopefully others here can share their experiences with similar medication decisions and how they've worked through these treatment considerations with their medical teams.
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Community Member
6 months agoHey Jan and sorry for your lost but I was taken off tamoxifen but I do have a lot of opioids that I was given which I use probably 1 a week so I won’t get addicted but I do monthly infusions and injections for my bones once I get home I can send you the names if you like
Community Member
6 months agoHi Iranica, Thank you for your response! Osteonecrosis is a disease you get from bone strengthening drugs. I got that when taking Xgeva for bone strengthening. That caused my jaw bone to be exposed inside my mouth and infection. It was painful. Do any of the drugs you are on NOT cause Osteonecrosis? If so, I really want to get this information!!!!!
Community Member
6 months agoI haven’t had any problems but here are the names goserelin abemaciclib+fulvestrant and zoledronic acid once a month and I have a pain management doctor as well
Community Member
2 months agoBalancing cancer treatment with other health conditions like osteoporosis creates such complex decisions that many in this community face. The combination of bone health concerns, family history, and treatment effectiveness makes this particularly challenging to navigate. Hopefully others here can share their experiences with similar medication decisions and how they've worked through these treatment considerations with their medical teams.
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