Bisphosphonates may cause poorer survival rate in women with early stage breast cance

[News]

Scientists from the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit presented preliminary data that shows nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates, therapeutic agents used to promote bone health and inhibit resorption, may cause a slightly poorer survival rate in post-menopausal women with early stage breast cancer who take them for their anti-osteoporosis properties.

More...

[1rarebird]

Well, this is certainly timely information. My oncologist just today prescribed Boniva for my osteopenia. It is one of the nitrogen based bisphosphonates covered by this warning. I'll hold off on the first pill in the morning until I get some advice on this from my doc.

bird

[Lori R]

Hey Bird!!
Please post your docs response. I've been on Boniva now for a year. Here I thought this was a good thing and was disheartened when I saw the post.

I won't see my Dr. for another 6 weeks. In the meantime, I might discontinue.

Do you think there are other options that don't contain the nitrogen that we could opt for?

Ugh...there is another well known bisphosenate .... starts with the letter Z. Forget the name.

Anyhow....let's see what our collective Drs. have to say about this.

Lori

[1rarebird]

Lori--
I didn't get an answer back from my doctor today, even though his nurse said he would call. But I didn't take the Boniva tablet either. I will let you know what he says when he gets around to it. Knowing how he thinks I am pretty sure he will say that the study is too small and not sufficiently "powered" to base any clinical decisions on. But I am like you---I wonder if any of the non-nitrogen based bisphosphonates are any safer. This study didn't appear to address that issue and it could be they are no more or less a problem than the current group of nitrogen based bisphosphonates. We'll see and keep in touch---

bird