Hi Doris’s, yes, my husband has been diagnosed with it and it sounds as if he has been prescribed the same medication as your husband. He is taking calcium and vitamin D but declined the alendronic acid due to the dental side effects. Where we live it’s impossible to get an NHS dentist. We do have regular check ups etc with a private dentist but could not afford major works the medication might make necessary.and he also did not want the risk. That said, although the diagnosis is osteoporosis, the surgery pharmacy told him with the reading read as age adjusted, the real diagnosis is osteopenia - slightly less severe and that informed my husbands judgement too.
i am aware of the risk to him of falls and, of course, worry ! I am on constant alert for fall hazards - especially if we are out and about in unfamiliar territory. But - the last major fall in the family was my own!!! The biggest casualty was my pride !!!
I think my husband would have agreed to take the alendronic acid if he could have been assured of dental care at an affordable price but sadly, the NHS will not deliver - preferring to pick up the cost of broken bones to dental checks etc. ridiculous really!
Thanks for starting this conversation. I have been thinking about this of late. I started on Degarelix and Abiraterone in the last few months (rt to follow next month). When I have asked, so far, about medication to counter side effects of the HT, I have not received any helpful advice from my team. I need to push that question a bit more, I think, so it’d be good to have a sense of what others have been prescribed, both in terms of osteoporosis and other potential side effects. I should add that, despite a very large initial spike in blood pressure after starting Abiraterone, I’m tolerating it all pretty well. But it’s managing the longer term I want to try to get right.
When my husband was on ht we queried the need for calcium and vit D and the consultant oncologist said it was not necessary. I so wish I had challenged this! Nobody even considered a dexa scan for osteoporosis until some time after he had finished treatment and then, I think, it was a junior oncologist!
Hi Dorisw and all, I am sure that there isn’t a simple answer but this is my view. When I started on HT 9 years ago, I had bone density scans (Dexa) and to prevent osteoporosis I was given calcium supplements (ad cal) and in order to get the most out of this, my team explained that alendronic acid (in my case sodium Risedronate) was added. I have had biannual scans and even with this, I am now osteopenic (stage before osteoporosis). My team still advise me to keep on it (despite 5 years being the recommended max). I still play tennis and am worried about falling but have slowed down and try not to do any silly manoeuvres. Last year I needed to have 2 teeth removed, and my dentist and oncologist agreed a break for a few months. Once teeth were removed I restarted. There is evidence that the chance of bone necrosis is increased for those on alendronic acid but the percentages are quite low is my understanding. Like all drugs, there are side effects and consequences so ultimately a personal decision. Please come back if you need any more information.
Best wishes, David
Please remember that I am not medically trained and the above are my personal views.
Hi, I started my HT in January for 3 years (plus abiraterone in Feb) and am aware of the osteopenia / osteoporosis risk. It's almost inevitable but there are things we can do to mitigate. Finished RT this month, still fatigued,
1. I was started on Adcal immediately, but unlikely that will fully prevent. I want to avoid other drugs, I have enough already...
2. Luckily I like cheese, hard cheese in particular is a great source of calcium (also milk, yoghurt etc but not keen on them)
3. I had a DEXA bone scan to 'baseline' strength. OK for my age (70) but yearly checks to see if any deterioration.
4 From my research, the most important step is bone strengthening exercises. Walking and jogging is aparently not enough. Weight and resistance training is key to properly stress the bones and also good for fatigue and combating muscle wastage. If you are up to it jumping (!) either from the floor or a step is the best therapy.
I have an appointment with a physio next week to find the right 'not too much-not to little' balance of workouts. My weights are in the lounge at the ready. I'm not up to full gym yet.
