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Osteoporosis drugs may boost cancer risk
People who take bisphosphonates, or bone-strengthening drugs for osteoporosis, may have a slightly higher risk of developing esophageal cancer, especially if they take them for several years, a study out this week in the British Journal of Medicine finds. Researchers tracked almost 3,000 people with cancer of the esophagus or throat for eight years and compared them with a group of 15,000 people who did not have the disease. All were over age 40. The scientists found that 90 of the cancer patients had been prescribed the bone-building drugs, while 345 people in the larger group were taking the medication. By figuring the odds, scientists estimated the risk of esophageal cancer increased with 10 or more prescriptions for oral bisphosphonates or with prescriptions over a five-year period. According to the study, in Europe and North America, the incidence of esophageal cancer in people ages 60-79 is typically one per every 1,000 over five years. This study estimated an increase of two per 1,000 in this age group, if the drugs were used for five years or more. The researchers also looked at about 10,000 people with bowel cancer and 2,000 others with stomach cancer and found no increased risk with the use of these drugs. Experts aren't sure why the drugs might lead to throat cancer. They do know however, that bisphosphonates can cause inflammation in the esophagus, which could cause cancer to develop more easily.
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Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love. Recent Comments
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There are precautions when taking these drugs – check with your doctor. These drugs should be taken on an empty stomach. Don't eat for 1/2 hour afterward, don't lay flat for an hour, take with a full glass of water. Stop taking and call your MD if any symptoms of GERD or chest discomfort. And obviously, anyone who has GERD or esophageal problems is not a candidate.
Always check with your MD and get a second opinion.
Four hours after taking one of those drugs, I still could not lie flat, nor eat. My transverse colon was inflamed, my wrists and jaw hurt (and I am still having problems in those areas). I was prescribed the monthly pill; I only took one dose and told my doctor that they must have tested it on women under five feet tall with an unusually short digestive tract. Vitamin D does a better job of keeping bone mass.
Years ago, in China, it was determined that a lack of vitamin C caused by nitrates and nitrites in cured meats caused esophagal cancer. Perhaps these drugs block vitamin C.
The number crunching above is totally wrong: 90 cancer patients out of 345 taking this drug is clearly one in four people. That is very very very high. And it must also cause Alzheimer's disease too, if people suddenly cannot do elementary arithmetic, unless there was a mistake in the article.
Unfortunately, vitamin D and calcium supplementation are inadequate dual therapy in a number of osteoporosis patients. They are essential to the treatment of bone demineralization, but they frequently are not adequate. That is where bisphosphonates come into play. Don't read too much into this single study, it is very flawed and makes a great leap of faith in terms of cause and effect. I would definitely support the further study of any possible association, but as it stands, the morbidity and mortality associated with osteoporosis and the frequent failure of vitamin D and calcium supplementation to attain adequate bone mineral density, along with the shortcomings of a single epidemiological study, do not warrant discontinuing the prescribing of bisphosphonates, which are generally well tolerated meds, at this point. No, I don't work for a pharmaceutical company, but I do treat a lot of patients with osteoporosis as well as elderly patients with hip fractures and insufficiency fractures secondary to bone demineralization.
Elizabeth – you are reading it wrong. The 90 people with cancer are out of the group of 3000 with the cancer. 90 people out of 3000 took the drugs and got cancer. The 345 people are out of the group of 15000 who did not have cancer. 345 of the group of 15000 took the drug and did not get cancer. They did write it poorly, but I believe their math is correct.
Well, Just not take anything! and pray don't fall!! Ther is NO 100% SAFE MEDICATION!! Not evem the Aspirin! Thanks God This medication works for other people! We 're not equal!
I have tried two different oral brands, weekly and monthly, to no avail...The last attempt two years back made me sick for a full week. I have been told that I'm a perfect candidate for the yearly IV, but will not attempt it...my reasoning may be faulty, but once it is in me, I'm stuck with it and there is no going back. I'm more fearful of these drugs for myself and yet my Aunt has been on them for 5 years with no ill effects. I think each person should make their on decisions based on what their body is "telling" them.
Talk to your doctor you say? I have been misdiagnosed by so many doctors over my adult years that it is pathetic how uninformed most doctors are, and do not know what THEY are doing. I've learned to research on the internet myself and diagnose myself and have taken my findings to a doctor then, to show and tell them how to treat me! My experience with doctors the past 10 years with several different medical problems has been horendous. My own research is what has helped and cured me, NOT a doctor.
Well Jay, clearly your 3 minutes of internet research is far superior to 4 years of medical school, 3+ years of residency and a wealth of experience. When you do come down with an infection and you need an antibiotic, good luck getting it without a doctor. I hear "internet self-diagnosers" don't have DEA drug licenses.
Elizabeth, have you read this article? Your literature evaluation skills are terrible, though you act like an authoritarian on esophageal cancer. Please explain where you deduced that bisphosphonates antagonize vitamin C. I cannot find that data. Please understand that this is a meta-analysis, NOT a randomly controlled trial which is the gold standard. The CNN article failed to mention that polypharmacy (more than 10 prescriptions) was also a risk factor. Or that corticosteroids had a higher incidence. Check out the indications for bisphosphonates. One is treatment of osteoporosis secondary to corticosteroid use. The indications for use were not explained in the BJM study. A huge confounder could be that these cancer patients were those who took bisphosphonates secondary to long term corticosteroid use.
Please please please do not be force fed your information from the media. Investigate the source of the information, ro talk to your local doctor or pharmacist. Ok stepping down from the soapbox now.
i have been taking bone drugs for over 5 years, if i don't, the pain in my hips is unbearable. i'm 56 and this jumped on me early. however, i have not felt well since taking them...first thyroid gets whacky and can't be controlled and now just exhausted and sometimes 'panic attacks' (so called) that last for days, not minutes. i have to take them for the pain, it's the only thing that hellps. we shall see.....
I am unable to take the medications orally so take aredia by infusion four times a year. Are there any statistics on infused drugs?
Thank you janet for taking the time, so many of us are clueless when it comes to taking care of ourselves
janet, while I'm sure it's advisable to take all the precautions you described, it doesn't seem that has anything to do with the cancer risk shown in the study. The article doesn't mention a thing about how the medication is taken as having any bearing on its relationship to cancer.
That's not true. These drugs are extremely harsh on the esophagus and the stomach lining. Following the directions on how to take them is extremely important because it minimizes the damage to those tissues. Any constant irritant has the potential of causing a malignancy. These drugs are extremely irritating to the esophagus and the stomach lining.
But the study doesn't examine whether it made any difference how the drugs were taken and whether people who took them as directed were less likely to have cancer.
I just read the study and while they did factor in major risk factors for esophageal and throat cancer, alcohol and smoking, this type of study only shows a correlation not causality. Meaning all it tells us is that people with the afore mentioned cancer tend to be using bisphosponate more. There could be another underlying reason such as lack of exercise leading to higher osteoporosis rate and thus higher bisphosphonate use, with the lack of exercise playing a role in a higher cancer rate, and the bisphosphonate is just an innocent bystander.
This isnt to say the medication doesnt play a role, but we need a more conclusive study with better methodology to better understand what increased risks patients on these medications are assuming by taking the medication.
Also remember osteoporosis does bad things and the medication can help prevent debilitating fractures, so before you stop taking your medication please discuss your concerns with your doctor.
You are absolutely correct. And those fractures don't just have high morbidity, but frequently lead to increased mortality in the elderly as well.
I'm a nurse & learned long ago that when a certain class of drugs comes with as many detailed instructions for taking them as these osteoporosis drugs do – the risks probably outweigh the benefit for most people. When a serious pathological fracture of my tibia led to the discovery that I had osteopenia at age 54, I was prescribed Boniva. Took it for 3 months, following the instructions to the letter, much better than most people would. I ended up with GERD so bad, I had to be tested for Barrett's Esophagus, which is a pre-cancerous condition. Luckily, I didn't have Barrett's. But I stopped taking the Boniva & am now trying to get my insurance company to pay for the once-a-year IV drug that is available for osteoporosis & which does not pose the risk for esophageal damage that the oral medications do. .
As a nurse, you should really confine yourself and your ideas to nursing chores. Anti-viral drugs have horrible side effects and anyone who says they're not worth the discomfort is a moron. Anti-viral drugs have made AIDS a chronic disease rather than a fatal one. There are plenty of drugs out there whose side effects are horrendous but the benefits outweigh the discomfort. Pharmaceutical companies would not put out drugs that didn't and the FDA would certainly not approve them.
Thanks for your honesty Anita. A true professional...
rs1201 As a fellow Nurse I commend Anita for educating and sharing...that is her "nursing chore" and she has done an excellent job!
"Pharmaceutical companies would not put out drugs that didn't and the FDA would certainly not approve them."
Right. I always trust the BigPharma and the FDA. Are you a drug salesman by chance?
Nursing "chores" include educating patients and their family members. Thanks for doing you "chore" so well!
In terms of side effects, oral bisphosphonates have a reported incidence of dyspepsia of 3.6% and GERD at 2.0%, actually less than or equal to placebo in two major studies. Not much in terms of statistical significance. As for anecdotal evidence, everybody has a story, but bisphosphonates are generally very well tolerated in terms of GI side effects. And not only do they effectively treat vitamin-supplementation refractory osteoporosis, curb the continued decrease of bone mass, decrease the frequency of insufficiency fractures, and reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with those, they also are key in the treatment of Paget's disease, hypercalcemia, and glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis.
This report is flawed in many ways. While it does suggest the need for further testing, it in no way demonstrates an evidence-based, statistically significant causal relationship. I would really like to see additional trials, study design, subject background, how confounding variables are handled, and so forth.
I have taken all 3 oral osteoporosis drugs on the market during the past 6 years. As a nurse for over 30 trs, I followed the directions faithfully & then some: I drank 2 glasses of water with each dose; did not lay down; did not eat or drink anything for an hour after ingesting the drug. Unfortunately, with each drug, I developed such horrible heartburn that I thought I was having a heart attack. Needless to say, I stopped taking them & will now try Reclast infusions. Anyone taking these drugs should be aware of the side effects & report them to their MD immediately. Repetitive inflammation of the esophagus can cause scarring in the esophagus, changing the cells in the esophagus, which can lead to cancer. To AnitaRN: I work for one of the largest health insurance companies in the country. You should have no problem getting Reclast authorized if you are unable to tolerate the oral meds. Your MD would most likely just have to verify you tried the orals meds & note what your side effects were.
So Very True...To All folks Stop taking fosamax! I do not smoke, eat healthy and workout.....I took fosamax for two years and one day thought I was having a heart attach.....turned out to be esophagitis from the fosamax which resulted in GERD! I am now a slave to Prevacid for the rest of my life. Hindsight is 20/20, if I knew that Fosamax was so erosive I would have opted to pass and not take it. My bone density is no better than it was 5 years ago. Thank you to all of the honest medical practitioners for their sincere comments, People....Listen UP to those of us who have suffered from this drug; we are telling our story so that you have information to make your decision about using this drug.
Eleanor as a nurse you should have read the instructons for your oral bisphosphonates...one must and I underline must use only 6 to 8 oz of water (which is clearly stated for all of the oral forms in the package insert). The reason is to minimze the volume in the stomach so to decrease the time of absorption from the stomach and to AVOID the chances of reflux of the bisphosphonate solution into the esophagus. I have counseled 1000s of patients and know that many think more water is better for some reason, but it couldn't be further from the truth...Eleanor you made a mistake and exacerbated the chances of GERD...it was not the fault of the medication. These drugs have saved many lives by decreasing hip fracture risk in the US and around the world.
I take fosmax so what my change getting thorat cancer.
Anyone taking this drug should also be aware of the damage to the jaw and higher risk of small bone fractures. Absolutely tell your dentist you're on this drug – even if you only just started taking it. I took it for 5 years for osteopenia – which it is NOT recommended for, and for, on the advice of my gyn. I stopped after I started reading about the problems that were beginning to show up. Two subsequent bone density tests since I stopped the drug over five years ago have shown no change at all in my bones. I still have slight osteopenia. I haven't lost any height, I make sure I get my calcium and vitamin D every day – in food, in sunlight, and in supplements, and I exercise four or five times a week. I know I'm at risk for osteoporosis – I'm caucasian, small-boned, and it runs in the family. But I'm never going to take this drug again. The risks are just too high.
I had taken Actonel for about 2 years when I needed a tooth extraction and implant. I had to stop taking Actonel and wait 8 months for my blood level of a certain blood component to rise to normal levels, which is an indicator an implant will not be rejected. I'm no longer taking Actonel. I'm just not comfortable taking a medication that may have a positive effect on some bones, but a negative effect on another.
As a nation we need to stop for a moment and try to find the bigger picture. This nation takes enough calcium every year to build the Hoover Dam. We get it from milk, antiacids, supplements and it now added to many foods. We have the highest incidence of osteoporosis of any culture. There are some cultures on this planet that don't consume dairy and have no incidence of bone thinning in their elderly. How much calcium and how many drugs are we going to throw at this thing before we finally realize that their might be complex drivers behind osteoporosis. This should highlight the complexity of the human body and underline our continuously failing attempts at achieving health through pharmaceutical means.
I agree. The modern American diet tends to increase the acidity of blood, a great deal of which coming from soda (including diet soda). As a response, the body uses up calcium (and other minerals) to neutralize the acidity caused from soda, leaving less calcium for your bones. That's just one of many factors behind osteoperosis.
What a great comment Will. I tell ALL my patients to do weight bearing exercises daily and add healthy foods to diet. Gain some weight as you fall, a little more cushion will prevent fractures. The sooner you start the less chance you have to suffer later...
Meditation NOT medication
Increases the acidity of blood? While that has a nice "holistic" medicine ring to it, the fact is that the human body is an excellent buffer system and is capable of maintaining normal pH despite a wide range of acidic or alkaline insults. Now, I am not talking about the overwhelming production of acid that occurs with anaerobic metabolism that occurs in ischemic illnesses such as sepsis and ischemic bowel or the formation of acidic products that occurs in diabetic ketoacidosis. But in terms of dietary consumption, our buffer system is more than capable of handling the acid dose that a case of sodas a day could influx. Eat right to avoid obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc. But I wouldn't worry too much about making your blood "too acidic" or "too alkalotic"...compensation by our respiratory system and kidneys will maintain our blood pH right where it needs to be in the healthy individual, regardless of what we drink or eat.
Thank you Will for your comments. There is a reason why pharmaceutcal supplements are referred to as potty pills. The best book out on the market to learn about the complexity of our bones is by Dr Naidu" Bone Health". Fasinating and a must read.
Steve, if you are an MD you probably know that bone represents an important site of buffering of acid and base loads. An acid load, for example, is associated with uptake of some of the excess H+ ions by bone. This can occur in exchange for surface Na+ and K+, and by the dissolution of bone mineral, resulting in the release of buffer compounds, such as NaHCO3 and KHCO3 initially and then CaCO3 and CaHPO4, into the extracellular fluid. This buffering reaction appears to be initiated in part by the fall in the plasma HCO3- concentration, since a similar reduction in extracellular pH induced by respiratory acidosis produces much less bone dissolution.
Although it is difficult to measure the exact contribution of bone buffering, it has been estimated that as much as 40 percent of the buffering of an acute acid load takes place in bone. The role of the bone buffers may be even greater in the presence of a chronic acid retention, such as that seen in patients with chronic renal failure. It has been suggested that parathyroid hormone has a permissive effect on bone buffering, but its physiologic importance remains uncertain.
I hope that people understand that this was a Case-Control Study. While it does shed light on a potential risk factor for developing esophageal cancer, there are inherent limitiations to the data. There are credible mechanisms prima-facie, but more research is required before one can establish a cause-and-effect relationship. I would like to see a future cohort study at the very least.
Peter, interesting comment about acidity in the blood. Does coffee increase blood acidity the way soda does, or not? How much coffee per day is safe for people who have osteoporosis? I happen to have low stomach acidity... But I've had osteoporosis (as a consequence of infantile polio) for who knows how long ... and took Fosamax for 5 years, with no noticeable effects in my esofagus. Now just taking calcium-phosphate supplements (natural)... and walking on crutches. My doctor says that no matter what medicine I take, the osteoporosis won't go away because of the polio.
I was on most of those drugs for awhile but never felt good ,or that they were doing any good so I went off. Started to eat more fuits and veggies, drinking more water, walking and doing light excersizing. Feel great and am out of pain. All drugs have too many side effects. I confess I do take Bystolic and Lipator and Synthoid but that is all I trust at the moment.
This is the scam that the drug companies and the FDA have been running for a long time. Here are the 4 points
1.The FDA approves the drug
2. Drug comapnies get rich
3. the drug is recalled but thr profit is made.
4. The drug makers hide the truth. A filmmaker has been reversing diabetes without drugs in many countries and the drug companies still push dangerous diabetes drugs just google SPIRIT HAPPY DIET
Because of course the Spirit Happy Diet is COMPLETELY FREE and PROVEN TO BE EFFECTIVE! Right, you fake?
Stop spamming, ya liar.
I Have been taking Actonel for about 7 years, so far no side effects. Not sure what to do, will talk it over with my MD. The risk factors I have are, 65 years old, post menopasual, low vitamin D level, (now taking more vitamin D.) Last bone density scan showed little improvement of osteoporis, or stayed about the same, not too severe, but slightly below the norm. Now afraid throat cancer might catch up with me. Might stop taking actonel. I do work out with some weights at home and walk when I think about it. Thanks to all of you for above information.
Instead of running to your GP who is more than happy to supply drugs the cute pharmaceutical rep is pushing why not control your diet, exercise and get plenty sun. You may get to die of old age. Pills, legal or not, are not the answer. The whole concept is to "control" patients to a degree where they cannot function without their drugs. Instead of "fixing" problems we end up with a nation of pill poppers afraid of making any move without "medical opinion". Sad. The healthiest and oldest people on earth are free spirits who live far away from a controlling culture, close to nature and unafraid of the changes in their bodies.
alumette, this is such a crock. Are you kidding? There are millions of people living today who would have died early deaths had it not been for the miracles of modern medicine. Crunchy granola types like you are just plain silly.
Studies support that bisphosphonates can cause inflammation in the esophagus, which could cause cancer to develop more easily. It does not mean we should avoid these needed medicines for osteoporosis. It is like when we are in the street any accident might happen and for that we can not be home all the time. Chances of having cancer by taking oral bisphosphonates is much less than having the bone thinning effect without the medicine and end up with much greater risk of bone fractures.
http://www.touchingsoulsintl.org
Do drugs in this category include EVISTA??? I take EVISTA for bones and to help avoid breast cancer.
Carol, Evista is not a bisphosphonate thus this study is not applicable in your case (I'm an NP and prescriber).
I have been on Fosamax for three years and have suffered with joint pain and increased stomach acid as a result. Took my last Fosamax two weeks ago. My MD will not be pleased, but I am tired of having to take anti-acids and anti-inflammatory medicine to counteract the effects of the Fosamax, which hasn't really improved my bone densisty anyway.
I'm not a doctor, but when you hear an advertisement for a prescription ya have to wonder am I better off with itchy eyes and sneezing or would I be better off with the side effects of some chemical – rectal bleeding, dizziness, nausia, headache, hair loss, stomach ulcer and in "Rare" Instances", blindness, suicide and anurisms. I'm going with the sneeze!
dear article writer, please have the balls to write a headline that is not in the form of a question. writing a headline that is a question is writing with your tail between your legs because you are too sissy to just come out and say what you think.
for example:
author of article too sissy to write a headline not in question form?
when what I mean is:
author of article is too sissy to write a headline he/she can't hide behind.
Dear George,
The person who writes the article is NOT the person who writes the headline.
We need to educate people that preventing osteoporosis at a younger age is the easiest way to not have to deal with osteoporosis. this site has a lot on healthy eating http://www.diet-myths.com
The FDA is a joke. We have thousands of drugs approved that are so new, there is zero data on the long-term effects of these drugs. How do I know? Because the drugs haven't been around long enough to have long-term studies. When my doc asked if I'd had a bone density test, I said what for? I eat a perfect diet, I exercise every day including heavy weight training. Since I wouldn't take a drug, what's the point? I just will continue my healthy ways and hope for the best.
sick and tired of the drug companies and their profits at all costs............
Let's do this – ban all prescription drugs. Everyone taking prescription medications will not be given refills. Let's see how that works out for everyone. Have fun with your uncontrolled heart disease, chronic pain, cancer, psychiatric disorders, arthritis and the numerous other diseases out there. Maybe you can find an herbal substitute that will be as effective as the product from the evil drug company.
Lets remember:
1) This study showed correlation and not causality.
2) The increase in risk was from 1/1000 to 2/1000. This is small.
3) Bisphosphonate medications prevent other medical problems such as hip fracture that can be equally fatal to esophageal cancer. The mortality within one year of hip fracture in an elderly patient is on the order of 90%.
While drug companies are undeniably evil, too many people here are overeager to read any headline, of questionable scientific merit, and jump on the bandwagon of 'evil drug company'.
-Jeff
Agree, agree, agree...on all counts. There is a terrible phobia of all medications, many of which do far, far more good than the perceived bad. The media can be a very bad thing.
I considered taking the bone-building drug and went so far as getting the prescription filled. However, I decided to forgo use after reading the instructions for use and the list of potential side effects. Great to know someone's writing and reporting about something I intuitively knew posed a risk to user's health.
One of the best online discussions I've seen on CNN! Thanks, everyone who's contributed! My story is a short one: bone density test showed osteopenia; doc said, hey, try Fosomax, I said "no." That was five or six years ago. No more bone loss since, and no regrets. I've pretty much decided I won't take prescription drugs unless and until I have some short-term condition they will actually cure. There may be exceptions to that, but I'll have to be convinced first.
I, too, have taken Fosamax after being diagnosed with Osteopenia several years ago while in my 60's. After reading some of the reports, I decided to just stop taking it after a year or so. The same with cholesterol medication. I have the type that my whole family has....it's just in the genes. I have never eaten anything fried other than a few BK fries and eat pretty much broiled, roasted, baked foods....hardly any sauces. I just stopped taking that last year after 25 yrs on various brands and my cholesterol is still what it was when I was on them all those years.....a little over 200. So, like you, I just stopped taking them. All those 'so-called research studies" scares people with the "side affects" on the labels that COULD happen. In my case. I have never had a reaction to any medication. The only thing I take now at 72 is 2 blood pressure meds and low dosage aspirin from a valve replacement. My BP is always low anyway but they wanted to make sure if for some reason it did spike, that I was covered.
Big deal. Depending on who you listen to, everything's linked to cancer.
I guess it is a "big deal" if you or a loved is the one who gets cancer.
The mother of my girlfriend of eight years is currently undergoing radiation for breast cancer. But her daughter and I will be lucky to live to see her recover (a full recovery is expected). According to some groups, cancer is caused by grapefruit, french fries, potato chips, crackers/cookies, regular AND diet soda via obesity, processed meats, smoked meats, smoked foods, hot dogs, bacon, doughnuts, etc. And don't forget cell phones. I eat extremely little of that list, but get my point? And in this article, one study says osteoporosis drugs increase the risk from 1/10 of 1% to 2/10 of 1%.
My mother died in 2003 at age 58 from esophagus cancer. She was a very early user of these osteoporosis drugs and I have always wondered if there was a link. She was extremely careful to follow all of the directions to safely use the medication but perhaps it doesn't matter. I'm saddened to think that her attempts to treat her osteoporosis may have contributed to her early death.
I have been prescribing bisphosphonates for many years and I disagree with Janet. While it is true that some people do not tolerate these meds overall the weekly and monthly forms have been exceedingly well-tolerated. My mother, age 93, has severe osteoporosis and has been on Fosamax for years without problems. She recently had a fall onto her back/hip and did not sustain a fracture. Remember that many meds have cumbersome directions: some antibiotics must be taken 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating, some require avoiding dairy or sun exposure. Don't be too quick to judge based on directions. Heavy duty narcotics, for example, have easy to follow directions but the potential for complications is huge.
So is Evista in this group? I have been taking it for 5 years. The osteopenia has improved. All the information I have read and received from my pharmacist says this drug works like a hormone without being a hormone.
Evista is a different type of osteoporosis medication in a class called SERM (selective estrogen receptor modulator). It is not a hormone medication. I use a lot of Evista also especially for younger women and those with less severe osteoporosis and those who have a lower calculated risk of fracture using the FRAX calculator. I believe that many people in the past were treated at too young an age for osteopenia but I sincerely believe that many older idividuals greatly benefit from the bisphosphonates. The risk of the jaw complication (osteonecrosis of the jaw) is minimal compared to the risk of fracture in an older woman with osteoporosis. It is of greatest concern in people undergoing dental surgery and especially those on chemotherapy and using the bisphosphonate IV. Every dentist I have heard speak says they are not concerned about the majority of their patients using these drugs–however if you know that you have upcoming oral surgery then speak with your dentist before starting these drugs. Also, for those individuals who state the the medication did not improve their bone density--the main therapeutic goal is to STABILIZE bone density (prevent further loss). Fracture risk is significantly decreased with these meds even if the bone density remains the same.
This article prompted me to write about my own experience. I am in my 50s, and had tried to take the pills without success, on and off 7-8 years ago. They caused indigestion, etc, as other posters have said. When my osteoporosis became worse, in spite of taking more calcium, Vit D and magnesium, I finally agreed to take the IV Aclasta. I don't know if it was coincidence or not, but 4 weeks after the IV, I was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery because of an intestinal blockage. I still am suspicious that the IV was the cause, although the booklet accompanying the drug lists several side effects, except what happened to me. I am convinced that things inside me somehow "hardened up.'" Go figure. All I know is that there's NO way I'm taking that IV again.
This can not be true!! Are you saying the FLying Nun is lying!!
Elizabeth, check your numbers and math. It was not 90/345. It was 90 of 3000 cancer patients that took the med. that doesn't mean that the med caused the disease. The other group (noncancer group) consisted of 15,000 patients of whom 345 took the med. The cancer risk therefore increased by .2%. Again, this was one study of uncertain significance but undoubtably there will be further investigation.
Aspartame (NutraSweet/Equal) is correlated with increased risks of cancer. Before you or your kids drink another Diet Soda, make sure you do not want cancer for you or your kids. New Rat Study Links Artificial Sweetener with Lymphomas, Breast Cancer
June 25, 2007
WASHINGTON—A new long-term animal test from an Italian cancer institute raises serious safety questions about the artificial sweetener aspartame, which is marketed generically as well as under the NutraSweet and Equal brand names. A dozen toxicology and epidemiology experts and the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest are calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to immediately review the study, which found increases in lymphomas, leukemias, and breast cancers in rats.
No, Aspartame has no proven association with cancer. Everyone and there cousin was trying to link Aspartame to cancer, hyperactivity, brain cancer, you name it. The author of the above study is fixated on the subject. He has presented many terribly flawed and disproven reports on Aspartame toxicity. Dozens upon dozens of bench and clinical studies over the past twenty years have demonstrated NO association between Aspartame and cancer. In fact, one of the largest, multi-institution studies ever conducted and reported shortly after the above was released disproved all of those allegations. You are looking at the results published from a single fixated author and his cohorts that caused a bit of a stir and has been disproven on many levels, many times. Fear not the artificial sweeteners....the fear is a media product, not a scientific association.
I have been on Actonel for atleast five years and I have had no problems what so ever. My doctor switched me to generic Fosamax for a while and it gave me terrible heartburn so I switched back to Actonel. My DEXA scan scores have improved while taking treatment. The chances of me falling and breaking my hip are much greater than cancer risk. Not letting the press scare me. Thanks.
I'm about to go help a parent who is being treated for esophageal cancer (recently diagnosed, Stage 4). She's been on osteoporosis drugs for at least 10 years, along with a host of other medications. This study doesn't surprise me, but does confirm for me that although many many drugs are useful and give quality of life, when older folks are taking 15-20 powerful medications daily/weekly/monthly, something's bound to cause serious trouble. I know doctors are concerned about being sued for malpractice if they "miss something", but wish they'd prioritize when so many medications are involved...
Barbara
Check your math. 90/3000= .03 or 3 percent of those who have throat cancer used the drugs. 345/15000=.023 or 2.3 percent of those who do not have throat cancer used the drugs. That is a difference of .7 percent. This now makes me qualified to do a medical study.
good discussion. i had a bone density that said osteopenia so i was advised to take actonel (i think that was it). however, i kept forgetting not to eat or drink anything before and also to take it on a certain day, so i just gave it up. i was on a number of meds at one time, including adivan (lorazepam) for sleep and another drug for bipolar (which was later found to cause diabetes). my point is that i now take no drugs at all! i am 66. also, i have switched to a 90% vegan diet (i eat goat cheese now and then, and it is hard to always avoid milk products, esp. if you eat out). this was not an easy switch–however, i feel better than i have for decades–i have more energy and am stronger. people say they need protein and go straight for the meat or fish–but you can get plenty of protein from plant sources–kale, nuts, raisins, etc. also you can get calcium from veggies. i have even read from an md who is vegan that eating all these dairy products actually takes protein out of your body. as another poster said, some cultures do not eat dairy and yet have low incidence of osteoporosis. going vegan means i don't have to worry about all the hormones in meat and dairy products–also i am not contributing to the pollution, water shortages, antibiotic overuse, cruelty, destruction of the environment that goes along with factory "farming," including fish "farming." people think it is good to eat salmon–farmed salmon. it is not. go for the virgin olive oil instead if you want oils. do not eat fish oil–this is from a small fish that the big fish need to eat. and you don't need it–they do. just my 2 cents. re the posters who talk about the negative effect of soda–i do drink that–will try and give it up. thanks.
I read all the warnings on these drugs and decided I could take better care of my bones by exercising and getting calcium through food.. And eating and drinking none of the things known to deplete calcium, or interfere with absorption.
The drug is too new for every side effect to be known. And some of the ones that are known and listed sound too serious..
I hope somebody calls Sally Field. She was the celebrity spokesperson for Boniva when that product hit the market. You couldn't go half an hour without seeing her ad playing on at least one major cable TV station. Maybe this will teach her that just because you can fly doesn't protect you from unethical drug companies using your good name to promote their poison when you're famous.
I'd like to add that these "bone building" drugs have been found to build more brittle bones ... my father has had three broken legs. He falls,t hey break, and he has been on Fosamax for years. The tiny increased rate of cancer, I'd ignore if I needed that drug, but seeing my dad with broken hip, broken femur and fractured knee, no.
Lotta pros & cons, as expected. Can you rely on the FDA?????? Does BigPharma make billions?????? Common sense folks. Pharmaceutical companies are publicly traded on the stock market. What is their primary concern, helping you live a better life or making money to satisfy their shareholders? Keep in mind........decades ago we didn't have as many diseases as we do today, even with the population expansion factored in. And people say...."oh sure, how do you account for the extended life expectancy we have today." How many people are crammed into unfit nursing homes nowdays, and how many are out there fed through IV's while on life support? Your metabolism can only take so much before it conjures up some sort of disease......people. The quality of life.....what a big joke. Who in their right mind would want to force themselves to live beyond 80 is beyond me. I'm sure you pseudo-christians with your delusional beliefs in a super god & all your silly traditions will chime in. Good ole capitalism. Hey, I have a few pallets of eggs over here, dirt cheap, and just inspected by the fda, usda, bbc, naacp, ppi, gdp, cpi, nbc and for only 10 cents a dozen. Take care all & learn, learn, learn.
I see the problem as this: As consumers we have bought into the magic fix for everything from menstrual problems to cholesterol and more.Before all these drugs,herbal remedies,etc. What did we do? We ate properly,exercised,talked,etc. With the advent of fast foods,electronics,and busy lives these have gone the wayside. We all need to get back to basics to some degree. Every ad I hear for any drug,is loaded with side effects,some actually worse than the problem itself. While there are some things we may absolutely need drugs for,finding alternative ways to help our bodies and health are more cost effective(drug companies making billions off of us).
I had been on several of the drugs for osteoporosis and kept complaining that it upset my stomach. I even tried the nose drops. Well the doctor wasn't listening about my complaint. I quit taking them and several months after that I found I had acid reflux. Later on I read a report that they did over in Europe on osteoporosis and they divided people into two groups. They gave one group osteoporosis drugs and the other group a placebo. At the end of the study both groups had developed osteoporosis. This study was done on people 70 and older. They determined regardless if you took something or not, you still will get it. It's just a process that goes along with old agel. Therefore I only take Calcium w/D daily to keep my bones strong.
It seems that if you eat certain foods....they MAY cause cancer. Now we have certain medications that have been popping up in the news that MAY cause cancer. They can research their little hearts out but the bottom line is if you are going to get it, you will regardless of what foods/medications you take. When someone who actually is diagnosed with cancer and is told, "you must have been taking this medication or have eaten this food for awhile", then they can print their findings, not until.
For all of you suffering from osteo out there, there is another way. I was diagnosed with early onset osteo at age 49. My mother also has it. The drs immediately wanted to put me on these medications but I researched them and did not like the side effects. My mom took them for years and they ruined her stomach. Drs in the U.S. always immediately look to these types of remedies, instead of natural remedies to problems. The pharmaceuticals just want to make money. My mom researched what people take in other countries (e.g. over in europe) and found natural remedies. Pescription drug companies won't make money on them BUT THEY WORK. Try calcium, vitamin D, vitamin k, and strontium. All natural. My mom reversed her bone loss and so did I.
You're right, I am also taking strontium and "osteo-K" a total of six K a day, split between two meals, and the strontium in the morning on empty stomach. I would much rather take these than the biophospates, and I think many people are coming to this conclusion when they read all the side effects of the medications. Glad you're seeing results. My friend has had the same good results and I hope to next bone density test too.
I took Fasomax for years and switched when Boniva came out. I went for Dexa tests every two years and each time I was either the same or in the red zone. That bone builder went somewhere other than my bones and I figure it went to gall stones ,which I had removed. Nobody ever bothered to mention that Vitamin D was the most important factor with that drug. I wound up depleted of Vit. D and had to take massive does of it. Got the Dexa taken after and I improved without the use of those drugs. I will not take them again.
The worst effect of this class of drugs is that instead of building strong bones, they are building a matrix of very brittle tissue. People on these drugs for several years are stepping off of curbs and breaking bones. That's not something doctors discuss very often.
stay away from the medical mafia unless you have a gash to stitch up.
there's NO profit to be had in healthy people. enough said.
Never fails. Every post that contains the words "come on, people", "wake up, people", "enough said", or "end of discussion" is full of nothing but bullspit.