Musculoskeletal System
Muscle Cramping / Spasms
After being on several targeted chemotherapies at different times for extended periods, I noticed that I had lower leg spasms, usually at night. They were so severe that I woke up in pain with constricted, lower leg/calf muscles in spasm, as well as my feet, toes curled.
Recommendations
Magnesium over the counter supplements starting with 250 mg daily and increasing to 400 mg daily as needed. Discuss this addition with your physician. Be aware magnesium may exacerbate or cause diarrhea so start at lower doses to assess its secondary effects.
Take a good quality multivitamin every day as it seems to help resolve such nutritional imbalances
Osteoporosis
After taking a triple combination of traditional chemotherapies, a year later I developed osteopenia and then the following year osteoporosis. There may be a correlation; the cause and effect is suspected, but has not yet been proven.
Radiation can contribute to osteoporosis years after the conclusion of radiation treatments - with bones becoming brittle and prone to fractures. Regular bone density scans can help to identify weakening bones so that treatment can begin before there are any major issues.
Recommendations
Calcium supplements daily (ideally sourced from plants, not sea shells or rock as formerly living sources are supposed to improve absorption). Citrical is what I take daily.
Vitamin D-3 daily (ie 5000 IU; ask your doctor for optimal dosage) increases calcium absorption. Important to maintain bone density.
Get a bone scan 1-2 years after you are diagnosed and/or have started cancer treatment.
If you become more at risk, your physician may prescribe a bone maintenance medication that may include treatment by infusion, a subcutaneous injection or oral regimen. One such regimen is as Prolia an injection, twice a year