HealthLinksSC.com | 63 AROMATASE INHIBITORS Breast cancer, the second-leading cause of cancer-associated deaths in women, often includes years-long utilization of aromatase inhibitors. This category of drug including anastrozole, letrozole and exemestane adds years of disease-free living to survivors' lives. Once again, this assistance comes at a cost. Because this is a widely known issue, it’s doubtful that patients taking these medications are unaware of the risk. On the odd chance that your oncologist hasn’t discussed this specific risk with you, ask them about the widely established guidelines on monitoring, preventing and treating loss of bone density for those being treated with an aromatase inhibitor. UNIVERSAL GUIDELINES FOR BONE PROTECTION • Limit alcohol to no more than two drinks per day. • Quit smoking. • Do weight-bearing exercise. • Take calcium (1,200 to 1,500 mg/day). • Take vitamin D. HELP TO HEAL For some of us, long-term use of these drugs is unavoidable and in order to live a longer, healthier life, so is making that extra effort to preserve our bones. If you’re aware that a possible side effect of any long-term drug you’re taking is osteoporosis, vigilance is key. Requesting a DEXA scan, if it has not already been suggested, will at least give you a baseline for comparison down the road. If you don’t think you’re ready for a scan, ask your doctor about including the following markers in your next blood test: • Vitamin D levels — Because adequate vitamin D levels are critical to good bone health, lower levels can indicate the status of your bone health. • Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase — An estimate of the rate of bone formation over your entire skeletal system. Patients with osteoporosis generally have BALP levels that are up to three times normal. • Urinary N-telopeptide of type I collagen, or uNTX — This can indicate bone resorption, or loss of bone. STAGES OF OSTEOPOROSIS HEALTHY SEVERE OSTEOPOROSIS By the Numbers Osteoporosis drugs can increase bone density anywhere from 6-18%. Osteoporosis results in 1.5 MILLION fractures annually in the United States. 10 MILLION Americans are affected by osteoporosis.
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