When & why did your onc prescribe Zometa?
 

Zometa (Zoledronic acid) is an intravenous treatment to reduce the risk of bone damage leading to fractures, compression fractures, scoliosis etc..
It is not approved to the same extent in all countries. Initially it was only approved for hypercalcemia caused by cancer. Then in several countries it was approved for reducing the pain caused by bone mets: in other words treating the damage by mets after the fact. I am not sure if it is yet approved for osteoporosis.
There are several studies showing that Zometa (as well as other similar drugs such as Pamidronate & Clodronate) may help prevent or delay bone mets as well as remote visceral mets at least in early stages of cancer.
Recent small trials have also shown that maximum benefits for bone health are obtained when Zometa is prescribed before pain sets in (not after) & that Zometa can still protect bone after either Pamidronate or Clodronate have stopped working.

So when you start Zometa & for what purpose may depend on your location & on the thinking of your onc as to how far off-label is willing to prescribe it.

It would be interesting to find out from members at what stage, for what reason & what resulted from Zometa treatment with or without anticancer drugs (Herceptin or chemo or both).

Was it prescribed before or after the diagnostic of bone mets? Before or after bone pain? Was it effective?

I started receiving it (3/23/06) after bone mets were discovered. I do not know if it is effective.
Barbara H.

Good questions.

I have been getting Zometa since July of 2002. I was on 3-weekly when I would get my Herceptin, then after about 18 months we cut it back to every 6 weeks. Then about a year after that, we cut to every 3 months. This is where I am currently, but will be re-evaluated with a bone scan in a couple of weeks. With that information we may either stay with Zometa, change or go off a bone strengthener altogether.

Why was I put on Zometa? I had just conquered an aggressive invasion of liver mets and also had some signs of bone mets. There were no longer any signs of mets at all, but this was a new drug that my onc was high on and wanted me on to build my bones back up after all the chemo I had. This was also deemed protective. It seems to have worked as I have had NO NEW METS other than 2 that showed in my brain in 2005.

I received 4 Zometa treatments (every 6 months) due to osteopenia. I had my ovaries removed to go onto Herceptin and Arimidex so my onc thought the Zometa could be a good way to go since the osteopenia could progress to osteoporesis (due to oophorectomy/Arimidex). Plus, he said, that there is an ongoing trial to see if it prevents bone mets in those of us who have early bc (I was and still am Stage 2A).


Since Herceptin is over, I will not get anymore Zometa until May, 2007 (one year between treatments now) even though I will be on Arimidex another 3 1/2 yrs.

Becky

My wife started right away. SHe had mets to the a lot of places. I think it works, but the problem with bone scans is that it really doesn't show improvement. It looks for progression. The problem is that area of mets treated could be scar tissue now. Those show up also. It also highlights where the body is at work fight the disease. Things have been pretty stable in the bones for long time, if it is the Zometa, then great.