Oncology

Answer 4 Reduced risk for bony complications from her cancer. The bisphosphonate pamidronate (or zoledronate) is indicated for patients with lytic bone metastasis from breast cancer (or myeloma) to delay the development of skeletal related adverse events, including fractures and radiation of pain or vertebral collapse.5 Bisphosphonates have not yet been shown to prolong the life of patients with cancer. Objective tumor response to chemotherapy or hormonal therapy (ie, shrinkage of a cancer) is not improved by administration of pamidronate. REFERENCE 5. Theriault RL, Lipton A, Hortobagyi GN, et al. Pamidronate reduces skeletal morbidity in women with advanced breast cancer and lytic bone lesions: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Protocol 18 Aredia Breast Cancer Study Group. J Clin Oncol 1999;17:846–54. Click here to return to the questions

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