Forum Discussion
Bisphosphonates to reduce bone mets
I’d like to share something that I’ve learned from my oncologist.
Bisphosphonates are used to reduce bone density loss in people who are being treated with AI for estrogen receptive breast cancer. One type of Bisphosphonate is zoledronic acid and is sold among other brand names as ‘aclasta’ and given as an injection.
My bone density scan came back with amazing results - not a sign of osteoporosis at all, not even osteoperitic - however, my oncologist has been following the research that shows that giving zoledronic acid as part of adjuvant breast cancer treatment before there’s any indication of bone density loss, can reduce the chance of recurrence of the cancer as bone mets, particularly in post menopausal women. So off I go to get an aclasta injection.
The most volatile side effect (though incredibly rare) is something called osteo necrosis of the jaw, so I had to get the all-clear from my dentist first.
Here’s some research. Worth asking your oncologist if you feel you fit into the category that might benefit.
https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/research/adjuvant-bisphosphonates-meta-analysis
Bisphosphonates are used to reduce bone density loss in people who are being treated with AI for estrogen receptive breast cancer. One type of Bisphosphonate is zoledronic acid and is sold among other brand names as ‘aclasta’ and given as an injection.
My bone density scan came back with amazing results - not a sign of osteoporosis at all, not even osteoperitic - however, my oncologist has been following the research that shows that giving zoledronic acid as part of adjuvant breast cancer treatment before there’s any indication of bone density loss, can reduce the chance of recurrence of the cancer as bone mets, particularly in post menopausal women. So off I go to get an aclasta injection.
The most volatile side effect (though incredibly rare) is something called osteo necrosis of the jaw, so I had to get the all-clear from my dentist first.
Here’s some research. Worth asking your oncologist if you feel you fit into the category that might benefit.
https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/research/adjuvant-bisphosphonates-meta-analysis
14 Replies
- I think as ive already been through a recurrence, is why our conversations to do with Prolia have only been about localised in the breast again never about mets. So I cant comment about that.
- Yes @primek I’ve always taken ‘recurrence’ to mean any type of recurrence of breast cancer anywhere in the body - so I guess local or Mets. I’m going to ask my oncologist about prolia @melclarity xx
- @melclarity I've always think of recurrence as local recurrence...but in these studues the term recurrence is in relation to elsewhere so that is metastatic. It's just a play on words. Same as the new 10 years on aramstose inhibitor or tamoxifen...they keep saying recurrence but mostly they mean metstateses, not local recurrence.
- @primek I see, though I'm not talking about mets, we've only ever discussed a recurrence in the breast that it helps protect against.
- @melclarity ...no, as it's different from a biophosphate it wouldn't offer the same mets protection but good for bone protection and maybe some reduction . It can't hurt..
- @primek Aha!!! that's interesting, so they are completely different things. My Oncologist Dr De Boer has always sworn by the use of Prolia and I have to say after 4yrs its fantastic! and it does offer another lining of protection from recurrence. My Surgeon also reiterated the same thing, they don't fully know why but it does. I'll take that haha! x
- Aha...prolia is not a biophosphate. Aclasta is an IV infusion of biophosphate. So it may offer protection but would certainly help with bone protection from osteoporosis.
https://www.rxlist.com/fosamax_vs_prolia/drugs-condition.htm# - 'Lancet Oncology' (May 2019) on denosumab's (Prolia) benefit for reducing bone fracture risk but little evidence for survival benefit: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(19)30146-9/fulltext
- Yes I havent heard about Prolia and bone mets. I dont know anything about that.
I only know about Prolia and added prevention of a breast cancer recurrence as per discussions with my oncologist the past 4 yrs. X
