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Bone Pain amd Hormone Treatment after Breast Cancer

Minibeast
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I had a lumpectomy in the summer, 5 sessions of radiotherapy and am now on Anastrazole. The only side effect until now has been hot flashes. Ive been coping well. However, the last two weeks, I've had dreadful fatigue and bone pain in my legs. I have Fibromyalgia and it feels like a massive flare up (worst in years) It started the day after having spent two hours outside in the freezing cold waiting for a recovery van when my car broke down. I'm wondering whether it if Fibro flare or down to the hormone tablets? I do gentle water therapy twice weekly.. I'm not taking the calcium at the moment because it causes me dreadful constipation. I eat a lot of cheese, yogurt and other foods to boost my vitamin levels. Could my vitamin D levels be low? Thanks in advance.

  • Hello and thanks for posting,

    I am sorry to hear that you are having some difficult symptoms at the moment. It probably is related to your other condition, and is a flare up. Women on hormone therapy don't tend to get an acute episode as symptoms usually are more gradual in onset. You can request a vitamin D blood test from your GP, if you would like your levels checked. There are different forms of calcium available as supplements. Do let your GP know about your constipation issue, as they can advise how to deal with this.

    I hope that you feel better soon,

    Best wishes,

    Vanda

  • Offline in reply to CRUK Nurse Vanda

    Hi Vanda. Thanks so much for your reply. Seems like it is a flare up. It does feel very familiar! Will get onto my GP about vitamin D level test and also the calcium issue

    Very grateful,

    Thanks

    Minibeast

  • Hello Minibeast

    I too suffer from fibromyalgia which affects my legs as well as the rest of my body. I started taking Letrozole in June, a month after my lumpectomy and axillary lymph node clearance, and have noticed that the fibro pain is more intense than usual. Standing out in the cold (possibly with freezing wind ) doesn't help either! I rejected my Adcal -D3 prescription because of constipation and indigestion and asked my GP to give me blood tests for calcium and vitamin D3. The results showed normal levels so I am happy to try adding plenty of calcium and d3 to my diet. This has also meant eating plenty of oily fish, which I hate, having been a vegetarian for more than 40 years!!

  • Offline in reply to afd

    Thanks so much for replying. Having Fibro is so confusing isn't it? Hard to tell what's causing what. It's useful to know I'm not alone!!! Yes, I'll deffo get on to my docs for some tests. I do have mild osteoarthritis so need to keep my calcium levels up. I'm fine with fish. Sorry you've got to eat it tho. Can't be nice for you. Hoping your recovery is going well. Thanks again,

    Kindest regards, Minibeast

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