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heblaj01 · 07-02-2006, 06:44 PM

Osteonecrosis of the jaw from Zometa is relatively rare in breast cancer patients but is I think more frequent in myeloma cases.
Besides the debilitating damage to the jaw bone, there are recurrent local infections that are difficult to overcome. However, from reading of some message boards it appears that some breast cancer women are able to control infection with the antibiotic Doxycycline (which according to some unrelated preliminary studies may also be beneficial for bone density as well as an indirect anti-angiogenesis agent against cancer).
All the bisphosphonates currently prescribed (even the older ones such as Fosamax) are now known to cause osteonecrosis of the jaw to various degrees. But the more potent newer drugs such as Pamidronate or Zometa seem to cause it more frequently. In the case of Zometa the usage is only stretching over a few years compared to over 10 years for the older ones, so comparisons may not be fair. Also, because until recently there was no warning by suppliers of bisphophonates about the risks to the jaw, cases of necrosis were not in the past reported or associated with the guilty drugs.
Court cases are pending against the manufacturer of Zometa by patients complaining of not being notified in advance of the potential jaw problems.

07-02-2006, 06:44 PM	#3
heblaj01 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 543	Osteonecrosis of the jaw from Zometa is relatively rare in breast cancer patients but is I think more frequent in myeloma cases. Besides the debilitating damage to the jaw bone, there are recurrent local infections that are difficult to overcome. However, from reading of some message boards it appears that some breast cancer women are able to control infection with the antibiotic Doxycycline (which according to some unrelated preliminary studies may also be beneficial for bone density as well as an indirect anti-angiogenesis agent against cancer). All the bisphosphonates currently prescribed (even the older ones such as Fosamax) are now known to cause osteonecrosis of the jaw to various degrees. But the more potent newer drugs such as Pamidronate or Zometa seem to cause it more frequently. In the case of Zometa the usage is only stretching over a few years compared to over 10 years for the older ones, so comparisons may not be fair. Also, because until recently there was no warning by suppliers of bisphophonates about the risks to the jaw, cases of necrosis were not in the past reported or associated with the guilty drugs. Court cases are pending against the manufacturer of Zometa by patients complaining of not being notified in advance of the potential jaw problems. Last edited by heblaj01; 07-02-2006 at 06:46 PM.. Reason: typo error in"rate"