Osteoporosis

Esspee

growstuff

Esspee If you do that, please also remind them that longer exposure to oestrogen also increases their risk of certain forms of breast cancer.

Only in those pre-disposed to it*growstuff*.
Sometimes quality of life is more important. Actually I was told that one glass of wine of an evening puts you at higher risk than taking oestrogen, as does being overweight.

That's not true. I had extensive genetic testing and have had the results. I have a somatic mutation, which means that it's a random DNA error and not related to any predisposition. Incidentally, I haven't drunk any alcohol for years and I'm not and never have been overweight. My cancer was oestrogen positive, which means it was being fed by oestrogen.

I have to balance some risks, but personally I would rather the cancer doesn't return.

Thank you for this post. I have osteopenia, diagnosed recently after I fell and broke my wrist.
I also had major open heart surgery in July (dissected aorta).
I have recently started at a gym and am very nervous about going to the Pilates class I’m booked into tomorrow. I now feel a bit more confident knowing how good it will be for me!

Skydancer:
High-intensity resistance training has the added benefit of influencing osteoporosis including improved strength and balance and increased muscle mass.

I have been doing it for 2 years, 3 times a week and the results my balance is now very stable, having built good muscle mass.

growstuff I am so sorry that you have had to face getting breast cancer and hope it is well and truly in the past now.

As you said, you had a genetic mutation which resulted in you getting breast cancer. I would call that a predisposition but that is irrelevant.

I was not implying that you drink alcohol or are overweight. I simply stated that just a regular glass of wine for example and being overweight are more risky than taking oestrogen. Please do not take these facts personally.

Everyone is different and every woman I know who chose not to go through menopause is highly informed and have made a decision they are comfortable with.

Thoro I go to Pilates, seated Pilates so I dint have to keep getting up and down which I can do but take some time. I go to one that is physio led

Esspee

growstuff I am so sorry that you have had to face getting breast cancer and hope it is well and truly in the past now.

As you said, you had a genetic mutation which resulted in you getting breast cancer. I would call that a predisposition but that is irrelevant.

I was not implying that you drink alcohol or are overweight. I simply stated that just a regular glass of wine for example and being overweight are more risky than taking oestrogen. Please do not take these facts personally.

Everyone is different and every woman I know who chose not to go through menopause is highly informed and have made a decision they are comfortable with.

No! No! No! You don't seem to understand. It's not an inherited genetic mutation. I'm not predisposed to cancer. A random mutation caused the cancer and then it fed off oestrogen. Incidences of lobular cancer (which is what I had) have increased over the last decades, and there is a correlation with the use of HRT. Almost all lobular cancers are oestrogen positive.

I've seen the table of risk factors. It's correct that oestrogen is produced in adipose (fatty) tissues, which is why there's a connection - but it's the oestrogen which feeds the cancer, not the fat. There is also a very small correlation with drinking alcohol, but it's nowhere near the risk of oestrogen.

It's very complicated, this cancer stuff.

I used to be amazed at my daughter's knowledge about it all, but she said "well, when your life relies on the decisions made, it's as well to be informed.

I have osropaenia, too, in my "good" hip.
It is severe and widespread, so the report says.

In my case (using the NHS Predict tool), I have a 9% chance of my cancer returning and dying from it in the next ten years. Blocking oestrogen reduces that risk to 6%, so it's statistically significant.

At my age, I'm well aware that I'm more likely to die from something else anyway and I'm quite keen to reduce those risks too.

I also know that blocking oestrogen increases my risk of osteoporosis. My risk for a hip fracture over 10 years is 2% with oestrogen blocked and given that I already have osteopenia, which is less than the risk of the cancer returning, but is marginal. Of course, I have no way of knowing whether I'll be one of the 2%, 3%, 6%, 9% or whatever. I'll have another bone density scan in two years. If my quality of life is reduced from blocking oestrogen, I might have to reconsider.

I'm keen to do what I can to reduce osteopenia from developing into full-blown osteoporosis. Apparently, one of the biggest determinants is your nutrition as a child, when bones are being formed. Maybe people of our generation should be grateful of the milk we were made to drink at school.

MissAdventure

It's very complicated, this cancer stuff.

I used to be amazed at my daughter's knowledge about it all, but she said "well, when your life relies on the decisions made, it's as well to be informed.

Exactly! From the moment I was diagnosed until my treatment started, I must have read literally hundreds of articles about risk.

Esspee

My mother SUFFERED from osteoporosis, truly suffered.
That is why I decided not to go through the menopause, the main cause of osteoporosis in women.
I am so sorry MissAdventure that you too are suffering. Treatment will help prevent it from getting worse but if you have daughters or granddaughters please make sure they know they can avoid the condition thanks to modern medicine.

The main cause of osteoporosis in women is inactivity.

argymargy

Esspee

My mother SUFFERED from osteoporosis, truly suffered.
That is why I decided not to go through the menopause, the main cause of osteoporosis in women.
I am so sorry MissAdventure that you too are suffering. Treatment will help prevent it from getting worse but if you have daughters or granddaughters please make sure they know they can avoid the condition thanks to modern medicine.

The main cause of osteoporosis in women is inactivity.

Do you have a source for that claim?

growstuff

argymargy

Esspee

My mother SUFFERED from osteoporosis, truly suffered.
That is why I decided not to go through the menopause, the main cause of osteoporosis in women.
I am so sorry MissAdventure that you too are suffering. Treatment will help prevent it from getting worse but if you have daughters or granddaughters please make sure they know they can avoid the condition thanks to modern medicine.

The main cause of osteoporosis in women is inactivity.

Do you have a source for that claim?

Vast body of evidence supporting weight-bearing exercise to prevent osteoporosis. Try Cochran Library, NHS Choices etc etc

Sorry, I'm too lazy to look for a source. I thought you might have a direct link.

Since I was told I have osteopenia, I've spent hours looking for information from various websites and have never come across one which claims that inactivity is the main cause of osteoporosis.

We don’t say inactivity is the main cause, i and others, are saying that exercise helps ease the pain. In fact I am all geared up to do a long bike ride today despite the pain and lack of sleep due to pain. I will sleep like a baby tonight and tomorrow will be a good day

The Royal Osteoporosis Society doesn't recommend cycling or swimming as beneficial because they're not weight bearing, although they're good for you in other ways.

I'm not disputing that exercise is good, but lack of exercise isn't the main cause of osteoporosis.

I have had diagnosed osteoporosis for about 10 years and taken calcium, alendronic acid for 5 years etc. It seems hereditary as both my mother and grandfather had it. I have recently tested positive for coeliac disease and that is a reasonable explanation of why I have osteoporosis as it can cause malabsorption of food. Is osteoporosis painful? I would have said not in itself, have you considered, or has anybody mentioned, that you might have arthritis alongside, hips are notorious for it. Keep exercising, if I do nothing else I walk a good distance most days.

argymargy is incorrect. Inactivity is most certainly NOT the main cause of osteoporosis in women.
Two minutes on Google will make that abundantly clear to anyone.

From the Versus Arthritis site
One of the Causes
Lack of weight-bearing exercise – Exercise encourages bone development, and lack of exercise means you'll be more at risk of losing calcium from the bones and so developing osteoporosis. Muscle and bone health are linked so it's also important to keep up your muscle strength, which will also reduce your risk of falling

Men as well tend to have better bone density before any serious bone loss develops possibly because they are more physically active.

I am saying not exercise will help with the cause BUT it definitely will help with the pain. My weight bearing with cycling comes from lifting my 24kg bike on and off the cycle rack, wheeling up a steep slope and getting it indoors. I. Do this about e times plus a week

I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis over 60 years ago. Just told to take more calcium and was on Alendronic acid for 6 years. Hubby and I still went dancing over the years although we both started with arthritis.
I have during my life broken at least 12 bones which includes both hips and just given painkillers to get me through. I also suffer with Epilepsy and Asthma and I have a pacemaker.

In 2015 I broke my left hip in three places which never healed and I now have to wear a built up shoe because the left leg is 4 inches shorter through the hip never healing properly.
Since 2018 I have also broken three vertebrae just by turning awkwardly and cracked two ribs when laughing heartily plus in 2021 I spent another month in hospital with a fractured coccyx. Unfortunately I cannot straighten up now nor can I grip anything.
I can only be grateful that I can still type any replies out with the middle finger of my right hand.
I am 92 and live on my own although I am housebound and very disabled now I pull myself about with my trolley in my home. When in hospital I was told that I may benefit from bone infusions of Zoledronic acid .
So far I have had two but I cant say that they are doing much for me with all the ruddy pain I am getting now. I seem to be getting TOO many side effects from it and to be honest I cant see the point of it at my age.
It would be better used for a younger person who needs it rather than me.
I did ask the consultant if he was trying to make me the fittest corpse in the burial ground.

Having said that I think I am a VERY lucky lady to still be here so I try to see the funny side of life which helps me through.

I've followed this thread and have now been fast-tracked for a physio appointment, which I have this week on Thursday. I should get a thorough examination with the possibility of a referral for an MRI. I've already requested some exercises which I can do safely to strengthen my hip, thigh and lower back. Fingers crossed!

It is catch 22. I took HRT for 5 years then in my late 60s was diagnosed with breast cancer. I take a tablet to reduce oestrogen now and a daily tablet to strengthen my bones. One works against the other. I will be stopping the bone strengthening one in March as it is only given for 3 years. I also was prescribed calcium and vitamin D tablets.

I have been diagnosed with osteopenia and do Pilates and weights.

It is hard to know if the HRT caused the breast cancer but it is not as easy as you say Espee.
Growstuff the Letrozole could be causing your pain.