osteopenia.

Hello Tabbyc,  Sorry to hear about the bone loss.  You may laugh at my suggestion but it is science based.  Eat 6 prunes a day.  My hubby has osteoporosis and is not in meds so try to do it with foods.  I eat them too as am on Anastrazole and small boned etc.  Had bilateral lumpectomies and radiation.  My bone density is good now but hope to keep it that way.  Here is the link to the study https://www.clinicaladvisor.com/home/topics/endocrinology-information-center/prunes-bone-loss-osteoporosis/

You are doing everything right so that makes a difference.  I know what you mean about not adding on more drugs.  

Thank you that is so reassuring and helpful. x

I added prunes to my diet last year after my bone scan, have held off on the bisphosphonates, bone scan report was mild osteopenia with FRAX score of 11%.

Thanks for the reminder. I do like figs but I suppose they don't count? X

Hi Tabbyc , snap! I was diagnosed with osteopenia a few months after starting Anastrozole (but the dexa scan was just a few weeks after starting so not blaming it!). Like you,  I decided after discussing with my GP that I would take calcium and vitamin D supplements but hold off on the bisphosphonates for fear of more side effects. Like you I was a teacher (primary then special needs) so a very active job. My second dexa scan in 2021 showed very little change so have kept on just the supplements. Am currently waiting for my third scan, it’s late but there’s a long backlog apparently. 
Thsnks re prunes tip Hopeful Barb , I must get back to them in my porridge again! Dried figs are also good apparently. 
I walk a lot, including Nordic walking, but have also added going to a small local gym once a week mainly to do weight bearing exercises. Hopefully it’s all helping! Love and hugs, HFxx 

That's good prefer figs to prunes. Ta x

Thank you so much for this. I've started the prunes too. Probably be a national shortage

1. Yes we're eating em all.

Hi Tabbyc 

I had a DEXA scan shortly after starting Anastrozole and was prescribed VIT D/Calcium tablets.  I was told I had osteopenia (I was aged 51) and to be fair, it hasn't worried me in the slightest.  I've fallen over a few times (stair gate for the dog at least 3 of these times and tumbled down the stairs, hitting the floor quite hard - grrr), without any ill effects.

I stopped taking Anastrozole in August last year after being on them for 5 years and went for another DEXA scan a couple of months later.  I don't know any results, but although all my tablets were stopped, they shouldn't have stopped the VIT D/Calcium, so I was re-prescribed those as I asked the lady performing the scan if I should still be taking them.  Just chewable tablets, that are a little like eating a refresher sweet - tasty!

(I had lumpectomy, radiotherapy and no lymph involvement).

I think the one thing I learned when I had been through a bit of treatment, was that the fear of everything was far worse (for me) than the actual.  So now, I just accept that there's no point worrying and just carry on living as if I've never had cancer.  Not easy to do when you have the next mammogram etc. but I try to do this as much as possible and put everything out of my mind - hence not even bothering to find out was my T score was 

Also, I think that as we are diagnosed shortly after taking Anastrozole, then we would never have known if we hadn't had BC as we wouldn't be going to the DEXA scans.  The Anastrozole will speed it up a bit, but then the tablets/diet will assist and hopefully stop it getting worse than before taking the tablets and before we even knew we had osteopenia in the first place, if that makes sense.

I can't stand prunes, as others have suggested but it sounds as if they work!

All the best, Lesley

Yes and a shortage of toilet paper too!!

Barbara