Hello

Hi, you are not alone, you could be describing me! My oncologist asked my GP to arrange a DEXA scan for my bones and it was arranged at my local hospital (I've now been prescribed Calcium and Vitamin D by the GP  for osteopenia - on top of my letrozole). Perhaps it's worth phoning your Breast Care Nurses to check what the procedure is?

Still struggling with sleep - I fall asleep ok but wake up in the middle of the night and usually have to sneak downstairs for something to eat before I relax enough to fall back to sleep. 

Wishing you all the best x

Hi Mmcg

the bone density (DEXA) scan isn’t anything to be worried about.  If you’ve been prescribed letrozole there’s a risk it will weaken your bones, by reducing oestrogen levels in your body.  The Dexa scan checks the current state of your bones by looking at the bone mineral density, probably in your spine and hip.  It will come up with a number which indicates whether there’s any existing weakness, eg. due to aging.  If there is, your oncologist or GP can prescribe something to strengthen your bones, such as Vitamin D or calcium supplements, or other drugs if needed.  I guess it also provides a baseline so your doctors can check later whether your medication is having much impact on your bone strength.  Sorry if you know all this already!

The scan itself is really quick and easy and, if you’re not wearing metal, you have it fully dressed.  As long as your oncologist has referred you (and it sounds like she has) it seems to be a question of waiting until you’re top of the list, but I wouldn’t worry about it unless it drags on for months.

Hi. Thank you for replying. I wasn't sure whether the Dexa scan should have been done before Istarted on Letrozole. Hadn't picked up that it was something that would happen, until I checked later in the McMillan booklet.. I agree on the waking in the night and being unable to get back to sleep. 

Hi, I was already on Letrozole for about 3 weeks when I had my scan and s someone else has said, it's a baseline. I had my first Zometa bone infusion last week, and was prescribed 6 months worth of calcium and Vit D, though to be honest I had already started taking the ones I bought from Boots.

Hope the fatigue and sleeping improves for you soon 

Thanks Jomor. 

I've been a fan of vitamin D for years so hope my bones will be ok. I'll give the Breast Care Nurse a call and see if she knows when the scan might happen. Thanks for the info on the scan. I think I was just a bit rattled at the mention of something else to be done when I had breathed a sigh of relief that I'd made it through the other parts of the treatment. You know how each stage has its own little niggling worries.

M

Don’t know if this helps but there’s been talk of doing DEXA scans on everyone of a certain age, and they do do screening DEXAs in some countries as routine. But in the UK there seems to be a lack of scanning facilities. My daughter needs one as we suspect she has similar metabolic problems to myself and I’ve had osteomalacia ( adult rickets), but goodness knows when she’ll get it. It’s a simple, painless procedure and gives you good information about the strength of your bones. 

Are you going to be on bisphosphonates? I am getting a zoledronic acid infusion every 6 months. I asked about a bone scan and they said no need as I am already on the treatment they would give me if there was any problem anyway. It could be an age thing as well though - I was put in to a menopause during chemo with zoladex so they maybe weren't too worried about my bones ahead of treatment. As others have said, I'm sure it's fine to have this after starting treatment if they want a baseline - a few weeks or months on letrozole won't make a huge difference.

For getting off to sleep, I now use some of the free meditation apps and they are really good at closing your mind down and getting off to sleep - might work for you too. I had this annoying thing where I would be completely fine then as soon as I went to bed, I felt anxious! No reason for it. The meditation apps work for me.