Marlibird

Hi Marlie

I am only just starting radiation treatment for BC but my natropath has mentioned that some drugs that are perscribed can cause weakening of the bones.  You should take this up with your Dr and see if there are alternatives that don't have weakening of bones as a side affect.

 take care Georgie

Hi Marlibird, I have arthritis like pain in my knees, hips and fingers. I hobble like an old lady for the first 6 or 7 steps. My fingers are very weak and stiff, and it is hard a make a fist, especially in the morming. My oncologist assures me that these drugs, do not cause arthritis, only arthralgia, which is painful joints. Great, so no damage is being done, but I feel like I am 100. I had chemo last year, 4 months of tamoxifen, and have now been on femara for 10 months. I have found that taking large doses of fish oil, and also Blackmores Lyprinol has really helped. I still hobble around, but it is not as painful as it use to be, and I can roll over in bed now, without waking myself up in pain. Good luck. Love Chris xx

I can relate to Chris that is exactly how I feel, I finished radiation in January. I also take fish oil tablets (i take 3x3 per day) I really notice when i have forgotten.

Have you had and an xray/mri - how do you know you have arthritis. Is it just how you feel or was it diagnosed.

One other thing i have recently come across is yin yoga. It is awesome I feel 10 years younger for about two days after one x 1 hour class. Gentle floor poses, held for 5 minutes and deep breathing - i cannot recommend it enough if it does for others what it has done for me. I have also been blessed with a teacher who is very patient and works individually with each class member.

All the very best - we can only get better if that is what we chose.

Maria333

I have had arthritis since I was 12 years old (juvenille rheumatoid arthritis and seronegative spondoloarthritis) as well as other related conditions (raynaud's disease and it is/was thought I might have mixed connective tissue disorder).

If my chemo etc causes more problems with this, I wont know for a while yet (I just had cycle 4 of 6 of Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin), I do get joint and muscle etc pains form my chemo and can also get it from the Neulasta (i now have to take with each cycle after suffering neutropenic septecemia last cycle)).

I am sad to hear that yuo have arthritis now after treatment. From what I understand and have been told chemo etc does not cause arthritis but if you have it hidden, then it can flare it up and make it known etc. also the drugs used inchemotherapy etc can cause arthralgias and myalgias (joint and muscle pains) but they do not normally lead to actual damage.

I hope you are getting some kind of treatment for your arthritis as there are a lot of treatments out these from "simple" natural remides to full on biologicals (some of the chemo drugs are actually used to treat serve arthritises - things like methotrexate etc).