Gerri, I had osteopenia of the hips and took the Actonel for a while, but I don't think I would ever do Zometa for oestopenia, due to the risk of osteonecrosis. It was probably good that I take Actonel for four years,not only to build bones, but to help decrease any bone mets. I need to recheck my bone density soon to see what's going on there.
No, I don't have the ten percent risk articles in front of me now, but the risk I have read for intravenous biphosphonates is around 10%, while the risk for oral was low at 2%.
Note, I was was only aware that bisphosphonates decrease bone mets:
BREAST CANCER — Bisphosphonates have several potential uses in women with breast cancer:
- Prevention or delay in skeletal complications, as well as palliation of bone pain in patients with documented bone metastases
- Preventing the appearance of bone metastases in patients with high-risk early stage disease (ie, those receiving adjuvant treatment)
- Prevention of the bone loss that accompanies adjuvant systemic therapy
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