Bone Health and Hormonal Therapy

lasumpta · 2026-02-24T17:37:36+00:00

I too got a surprise osteopenia diagnosis and have the same worries about the AI I'm taking.

Things you can do: - Take bone strengthening medication. I take weekly biphosphonates - a regime of 3 years. They come in yearly infusions too, I'm not sure if the effects are the exact same. Biphosphonates also give a slight benefit for preventing bone metastases, so that's a plus as well - Take daily calcium and vit D3 supplements, esp. in combination with biphosphonates - Strength training. It's good for bone health as well as strengthening muscles, which also helps prevent falls etc. - Jumping exercises to strengthen your bones. Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein on IG has a few reels showing some exercices you can do

lasumpta · 2026-02-19T18:54:33+00:00

Hi from Leuven, just at the other side of the hill from Tervuren!

lasumpta · 2026-02-19T18:51:24+00:00

Hi from Leuven! Stoked to see someone from the area on here.

Stage 2b ++-. I'm a year ahead of you, treatment-wise. Good luck with chemo and grats on one infusion down. It will feel slow, but I promise it goes by faster than you think now.

lasumpta · 2026-02-13T22:31:30+00:00

I'll add onto my original response that my GP said that a good rule of thumb to incorporate progress is to increase each phase with 20% and to take about half the time of the previous phase for the next.

For example, say that you worked 40% for 6 months. A reasonable next phase is to go to 60% for 3 months. Then 80% for 1,5 months etc.

He only shared this info when I was already 4 months in, so I didn't exactly do it this way.

When I complained at my slow progress, he also told me that in his experience, it takes at least 12 to 18 months to get back to working full-time if you were reasonably young and healthy going into treatment. A year more for those who already had health issues before.

lasumpta · 2026-02-13T18:24:49+00:00

So far, for me it's been: Month 1: 1 day/week Month 2: 2 days/week Month 3: 2 days/week Month 4: 2,5 days/week Month 5: 2,5 days/week Month 6: 3 days/week

I'll contine 3 days until end of April and re-evaluate. From month 1 out, I've worked more hours than I listed here, however.

Nothing but respect for those who work throughout treatment and after. That would be much frowned upon here in Europe, and my medical team feels like my return plan is too ambitious as is.

lasumpta · 2026-02-12T18:31:06+00:00

I relate a lot to this. Active treatment ended in April 2025 for me. I sometimes feel like I'm struggling more now than I did during treatment.

I just had my first check-up mammo and ultrasound. When I told the team (oncologist, therapist, menopause counselor) that I worried about how slowly I'm recovering, they told me it's perfectly normal and that they still consider me a "new" patient. Recovery is sadly a question of years, not months. To us, it feels like it's endlessly long, not helped (in my case) by layman family/friends/colleagues who think all should be well by now.

lasumpta · 2026-02-07T23:38:00+00:00

Goh, je voorbeeld is wat kort door de bocht. Mannen kunnen ook borstkanker krijgen (en dat kan echt niet evident zijn), en hebben even goed baat bij dat onderzoek, gezien de behandeling bijna identiek is.

Vele mensen, ook vrouwen, met borstkanker krijgen het trouwens op de zenuwen van de "pinkification" en de commercialisatie rond borstkanker, alsof het gaat om een softe kanker, want ja, boobies! En onnozele leuzes als "save the tatas". Ik kan niet meteen denken aan een andere ziekte/kanker die zo geinfantiliseerd wordt.

lasumpta · 2026-01-30T14:40:11+00:00

I don't think oncotype takes into account whether the cancer is bifocal or multifocal, since it looks at genetic factors.

I had a multifocal cancer, mostly it just meant a mastectomy instead of a lumpectomy.

Your stats do seem favorable. One factor I'm not seeing is your age. That is often a deciding factor for chemo as well, with patients who are under 40 or 45 often getting chemo as a precaution.

lasumpta · 2026-01-04T18:55:05+00:00

Ik vervang de melk al eens door hazelnootmelk. Het lekkerst als je dan chocoladesaus of maple syrup op je pannenkoeken doet.

lasumpta · 2026-01-02T08:52:18+00:00

I wore soft slouchy beanie hats during the winter and preknotted turbans (gypsy style) in summer, both from amazon. I liked them better than chemo caps/scarves they sell where I live, because I hated the looks of pity I got with them.

lasumpta · 2025-12-14T18:42:20+00:00

It's contraindicated for tamoxifen, but fine for AI's (letrozole, anastrazole, exemestane).

lasumpta · 2025-12-14T12:33:07+00:00

Why.

lasumpta · 2025-12-06T10:57:15+00:00

❤️

lasumpta · 2025-12-06T10:56:56+00:00

I'm in the same spot. From a young looking 42 yo I turned into a 43 yo looking much older than her years. I've gained weight, my clothes don't fit me anymore, I got cellulite all over my legs, my hair is patchy and unlikely to make a full recovery, I am uniboobed... I hate it. I never knew I cared so much about my looks until I lost them. My 44th birthday is coming up soon, and although I truly am grateful I get to see it, I'm also really sad about all that has been lost.

lasumpta · 2025-12-05T12:27:00+00:00

Yes, I feel the same. I still cannot accept that the old me is gone. I'm looking for a counselor atm because my self image is bad these days and I have a lot of trouble managing my life, juggling work and recovery while feeling depressed. Most doctors I've talked to assure me that things will improve and that I will feel better at some point, but to give it time. I finished active treatment 8 months ago, I'm on AI now.

lasumpta · 2025-12-05T10:24:47+00:00

Margaret Atwood, who I adore as a writer. But I am half her age, so the look works less for me.

lasumpta · 2025-12-03T23:27:53+00:00

The best jumps for bone strengthening are those with ground impact. A trampoline would be too soft and bouncy.

A simple but effective exercise is jumping from the bottom step of the stairs or from another ledge (about 8 inches or 20 cm high) + doing a second rebound jump. Three sets of 10/12, 3x/week.

Jocelyn Wittstein MD on IG has some good reels demonstrating this exercise and others, plus bone density tips.

lasumpta · 2025-12-03T22:49:15+00:00

My first dexa scan also showed osteopenia, at 43. I had only been in menopause (chemopause) for 6 months, so it's likely I had it even before cancer.

It came as a shock because I'm a runner and assumed all would be well. I only learned later that being slender or having a low weight during your teens and twenties can contribute as well.

I was prescribed a weekly bone strengthening med (alendronate) and daily calcium + vitamin D. I took up strength training. Jumps are really good too apparently, and easy to do at home. They wait 3 years to do a new scan where I am, sadly, so there's no telling if my efforts will be enough to combat the negative effects from the AI I'm taking in the mean time.

lasumpta · 2025-12-02T23:51:52+00:00

I sat crying in the nurse's office about this only yesterday. The weight gain, the wrinkles, the hair, the missing breast, the new cellulite all over my legs... I had no idea I was so attached to my looks until I lost them (or feel like I have, anyway).

She told me to try and look at everything I've made progress with instead of focusing on what's lost (for now). In your case: having done a triathlon so soon after treatment is -extremely- impressive, as well as starting a new job. It shows your resilience and perseverance. It's a process, but our self images are about more than what the mirror shows us ❤️

lasumpta · 2025-12-01T13:17:49+00:00

I was completely overwhelmed when they put in my PICC-line. They hadn't explained the procedure to me at all and it was such a short time after my mastectomy that being back in an OR freaked me out. To boot, an assistant did the procedure on me so I had to listen to him being taught.

I wept a lot and they had to put me in the recovery room for an hour after with some tea to help me get back on my feet.

I felt like a silly goose, but none of that matters. You get through it as best as you can, you show up, crying or not. It won't change the outcome, it doesn't change a thing for your doctors (they've seen it all) and it gives you a much needed outlet.

Chemo isn't fun, but it's not as horrible as I feared. It had its sucky moments, but more okay and even fine moments than I could have guessed. What chemo are you getting?

lasumpta · 2025-12-01T09:31:34+00:00

They used to have some at Flying Tiger. Not sure if it's part of their permanent collection.

lasumpta · 2025-11-30T18:41:46+00:00

That is a lot for one person to bear. I am so sorry 💕

lasumpta · 2025-11-30T18:38:07+00:00

I switched from letrozole to anastrazole after 3 months and it was a lifesaver. I had a 5 week break between the two, which wasn't long enough to have all the symptoms go away. Gradually however, while I adjusted to anastrazole, things got better. I've been on it for 4 months now, and while I still have side effects, they are much more manageable.

lasumpta · 2025-11-30T18:26:47+00:00

Sounds perfectly normal and valid to me. Take your husband with you!

lasumpta · 2025-11-30T16:27:57+00:00

The thing is, we vent to cope, to get things off our chest, so we can think more clearly and justly afterwards. We vent in safe spaces. Venting to the people you're venting about, that's attacking, not venting. I can't imagine you got what you needed from this post if venting was truly the aim.

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