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My major concern with taking letrozole is thinning of my bones. I am 87 years old and have taken care of my bones and they were in great shape until breast cancer came along. I am wondering what you all are doing about this problem.

July 3
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A MyBCTeam Member

Treatments like zoledronic acid or denosumab are two of the treatments that can have some serious side effects. Not sure which is the worse, breaking bones from taking letrozole or breaking bones with these treatments.

July 3
MyBCTeam

It's completely understandable to be concerned about bone health, especially when you've worked so hard to maintain it. Letrozole can reduce bone mineral density, raising the risk of weaker, more brittle bones β€” which is a very valid concern at any age.

The good news is that healthcare teams are well aware of this risk and Show Full Answer

It's completely understandable to be concerned about bone health, especially when you've worked so hard to maintain it. Letrozole can reduce bone mineral density, raising the risk of weaker, more brittle bones β€” which is a very valid concern at any age.

The good news is that healthcare teams are well aware of this risk and typically monitor bone health closely. Here are some common approaches used to protect bones while on letrozole:

- DEXA scans β€” a baseline bone density scan, with repeat scans over time to track changes
- Weight-bearing exercise β€” helps maintain bone strength
- Calcium and vitamin D β€” ensuring adequate intake supports bone health
- Bone-strengthening medications β€” such as zoledronic acid or denosumab, which may be recommended for those at higher risk Given your age and your history of good bone health, it's especially worth having a detailed conversation with your doctor about which of these protective steps makes the most sense for you personally. Your healthcare team can tailor a plan to help protect those well-cared-for bones! πŸ’ͺ

July 3

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Ernul, NC