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A MyMyelomaTeam Member asked a question 💭
Marlton, NJ

Due to my great concerns of getting ONJ (Due to having dental work as recently as 15 months ago), I will not take the chance of using bisphosphonates. (I read of a MM patient who waited over a year after dental work and still got ONJ) Additionally, I've read that Forteo and Tymlos (anabolic agents) are not recommended for people who have had bone cancers. So, what is something safe I can take to help my osteo problem? Thanks.

April 28
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A MyMyelomaTeam Member

Mark, ask your doctor about which calcium supplements they recommend or if you should get calcium from foods? Also ask aboul weight bearing exercises like walking and strength training to build bone and muscle. 😃

April 29
A MyMyelomaTeam Member

Mark,
I was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis years ago before my diagnosis of MGUS in 2020. I refused Zometa because of the side effects and long term brittle bones and chance of osteonecrosis. Back then, I was also having terrible foot and leg cramps. I have discovered that taking Calcium & magnesium (1200-1400 mg of MRM Bone Maximizer III ) with extra D3, K2, Vitamins C, A and W complex works well for me. No more broken bones, no foot or leg cramps and my high blood calcium levels went away. All these supplements work together. D3 helps absorb the calcium, K2 tells iIt to go to the bones, C helps absorption, A is for immune, and E complex (d-beta, d-alpha, d-gamma) helps thin the blood. K2 thickens the blood and so does MM, so Vitamin E for me balances that out. I’m going to ask for a Pro-time test just to makes sure it’s balanced. My fingernails and toenails get long fast. I’ve never cut my nails so often, so I know it’s helping build my bones back, where SMM is breaking them down. I just started taking something new called Astaxanthin from ValAsta. Since I’m Smoldering, I’m trying to reverse that. So far, so good. My M protein went down and my eGRF went way up, and Creatine down.
Paula🌹

April 29
A MyMyelomaTeam Member

Thanks Paula! Much appreciated.

April 30
MyMyelomaTeam

This is such an important question, and it's clear a lot of careful thought has gone into it. Managing bone health with myeloma is genuinely complex, especially when weighing the risks of ONJ against the need to protect bones.

The concern about bisphosphonates and ONJ is well-founded. The risk is estimated between 3% and Show Full Answer

This is such an important question, and it's clear a lot of careful thought has gone into it. Managing bone health with myeloma is genuinely complex, especially when weighing the risks of ONJ against the need to protect bones.

The concern about bisphosphonates and ONJ is well-founded. The risk is estimated between 3% and 11% for people taking these drugs, and it does increase with longer use. Avoiding them given recent dental work is a very understandable position. Denosumab (Xgeva) is another bone-protecting medication sometimes used in myeloma. However, it's worth knowing it has also been linked to ONJ, so it carries a similar caution.

Given the complexity here — myeloma-related bone disease plus osteoporosis plus recent dental history — this really needs a direct, detailed conversation with your oncologist. They can weigh your full picture and may involve a specialist to find the safest path forward for your specific situation.

Regular dental monitoring in the meantime is strongly recommended to catch any early signs of problems.

April 28

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