Common Bone Drug May Help Prevent Breast Cancer Recurrence

Most women with aromatase inhibitors for hormone-based drugs against breast cancer and to help the bone Zometa therapy-induced osteoporosis. A new study suggests that patients with early stage by combining Zometa with hormone therapy for their three years after surgery, the risk of cancer recurrence reduced by 32 percent.

Although exactly how Zometa reduced the recurrence rate is unknown, the researcher Michael malignant, professor of surgery at the Medical University of Vienna, said he thinks "dormant tumor cells in bone marrow of the" awake "prohibitions" .

Dr. Otis Brawley, said the medical director for the American Cancer Society, "in fact, Zometa is difficult and makes it more difficult for cancer to implement real."

For the three years of study, 1803 premenopausal women with sensitive early breast cancer groups assigned to different combinations of hormones, drugs, some and some without, Zometa. After four years of monitoring, the researchers reported that women Zometa reduced by 36 percent the risk of recurrence of breast cancer than women who did not receive the drug. Among women aged 40 years, the risk of recurrence by 42 percent cut. Side effects include joint pain, bone pain, fever and have been relatively mild and well tolerated.

The group also found that malignant Zometa has been associated with reduced cancer develop bone and other sites and breast cancer in the opposite direction, where the original tumor was found.

Despite these positive results, more research must be done to demonstrate the benefits of Zometa. "I never practice on a process of change," said Brawley. "But I see very little wrong with giving Zometa with aromatase inhibitors. Many patients already receiving care. "

Administered by physicians using infusions, Zometa is the cost is usually covered by medical examination of a consumer co-payment. These co-pays for insurance vary, and some patients may also be a drug co-payment to be paid.