Breast cancer cells can spread to the bone and weaken and damage the bone cells.
Bisphosphonates are medications that don't treat the cancer, but may help reduce the damage to the bone. They are given intravenously or as oral tablets.
Women with secondary breast cancer may take bisphosphonates for:
- treating bone pain
- preventing bone fractures
- reducing the need for radiotherapy treatment of the bone cancer
- maintaining calcium levels in the blood
What are the side effects?
Bisphosphonates have been associated with a potential increased risk of developing a condition called osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ).
More information
- Read an article about bisphosphonates in the Winter 2008 edition of The Inside Story (Issue 9)
- Download a resource sheet to learn where to find out more about bisphosphonates
