Using science to build strong bones as a cancer survivor

Me at Ravinia when I visited friends in Chicago this weekend

Some personal health news and a story about the power of science. 2 years ago, I went for a bone density test. Unsurprisingly it showed that my current “f*ck cancer” meds had decreased my bone density numbers into the osteopenia range with 1 number from my low back on the border for osteoporosis.

At that point, my oncology team and I decided to play defense. I added the equivalent of Harry Potter’s Skele-gro to my arsenal of daily weight-bearing exercises, a very healthy diet, and no alcohol that I was already doing. The hope was the new med would stabilize my numbers and keep osteoporosis at bay.

I just had my 2 year bone density test. Some of my numbers have improved by a lot. A couple stayed the same. The number for my low back tipped by -.1, taking me into osteoporosis.

I bursted into tears. I spend an incredible amount of time and effort looking after my health. Ani DiFranco wasn’t joking when she sang, “self-preservation is a full-time occupation.” How was this fair? What else was I supposed to do to stop this?

I pulled myself together and messaged my oncologist to ask about next steps.

I took myself for a walk and gave myself a pep talk. The med is working. Healing isn’t linear. I know this. Like an arrow, sometimes we have to be pulled back a bit to fly forward.

By the time I got home, my oncologist had responded. I expected to see a recommendation for more meds. “This is status quo. You’re on protective meds and will be done with the meds causing this side effect in a year. This will get better.”

The new medications I’ll switch to in a year, which will mark 5 years since the end of my active cancer treatment, don’t diminish bone density. They will likely protect my bone health and possibly improve my numbers. And my oncologist will keep me on the Skele-gro until I’m out of osteoporosis land.

My bone health isn’t where I want it to be. Not yet. I’ll get there, one day at a time, thanks to science.