Adding to heart problems??

[mcp1941]

Been on Eligard for more than a year and now MO added Erleada. Had a bone density test that came back as diffuse osteopenia. MO then added 1200 mg calcium to the D3 i have been taking. My concern is that a CT scan revealed numerous calcifications in the coronary arteries. Will taking 1200mg of calcium make that worse? I already have 6 stents.

[pjoshea13]

ADT can lower estradiol [E2] to unsafe levels ~ <12 pg/mL (IMO). That's because E2 is mostly aromatized from testosterone. (An E2 test would verify that.)

E2 is required for bone health. A low-dose E2 patch should be considered. Aim for E2 ~ 20 pg/mL.

Calcium is a knee-jerk response to osteopenia / osteoporosis. If you were calcium-sufficient before, how will another 1200 mg help?

Your "calcifications in the coronary arteries" suggest that you do not take vitamin K. K is needed for calcium to be transported to bone. Vitamin D certainly helps get calcium to the blood, but without K calcification can occur. (This is a common problem for those on Warfarin.)

The interesting thing about K is that it can also remove calcium from arterial walls.

You should consider a vitamin K2 supplement containing menaquinone-7:

lifeextension.com/Vitamins-...

E2 patch - lowest dose - might not be needed every day:

empr.com/vivelle-dot/drug/2...

-Patrick

[mcp1941 in reply to pjoshea13]

I have my appointment with MO this Friday. Will bring this up for discussion. I am also taking low dose aspirin. Will K2 supplements counter the aspirin? Thanks for info.

[pjoshea13 in reply to mcp1941]

No - vitamin K will not affect aspirin's inhibition of platelet clumping. -Patrick

[Tall_Allen]

I think your concerns are valid. You should ask for concurrence from your cardiologist before taking all that. Calcium + Vitamin D has NOT been shown to reverse osteopenia, although it seems to be the knee-jerk reaction of many oncologists.

thelancet.com/journals/lanc...

Zometa or Xgeva might be a better choice.

[mcp1941 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Seeing my MO on Friday and will bring this up for discussion. Also have appointment in 3 weeks with cardiologist.

[Hidden]

Are your Cardiologist and Oncologist communicating? I am fortunate that they share. Keep kicking the bastard.

Gourd Dancer

[mcp1941 in reply to Hidden]

NO! I will find out why not this Friday. They both work in the same hospital and both show up on the patient portal.

[Hidden in reply to mcp1941]

Question. Have you requested that they talk about you? I only ask because some get wrapped up in HIPPA regs.

Take Care,

Gourd Dancer

[mcp1941 in reply to Hidden]

I haven't requested they coordinate care but will tomorrow. Thanks.

[jimhagood]

These 3 simple steps will improve bone strength and metabolism of calcium, vitamin D. 20 minutes daily of direct sun exposure including all upper torso. 20 minutes of moderately strenuous uphill walking and as many pushups. 20 minutes nightly bath soak in warm magnesium enriched water.

[mcp1941 in reply to jimhagood]

I stopped counting the number of skin cancers that have been removed after it got to 20. 2 melanomas included. I already hit the gym about 4 times a week. Cardio and weights. I will check out the bath suggestion. Thanks.