Bone-Strengthening Drug Guards Against Spread of Breast Cancer

Recently researchers have found that using bonefrom one region to another, and if they are
strengthening drugs can increase bone density incontrolled, then the disease can be controlled. The
patients suffering from breast cancer. The researcheffectiveness of the drug has been tested on 120
shows that a few bone strengthening medicationswomen, who were undergoing chemotherapy. These
can actually help in the treatment of breast cancer. Itwomen were given 4 mg of zoledronic acid once in 3
can decrease the spread of cancer and also controlweeks for about one year. After around 3 months
the need for chemotherapy.of treatment, there was a notable improvement in
The biggest side effect of chemotherapy is that itwomen and they found that there were less cancer
causes bone loss. The tumor cells that are releasedcells in the body. Usually the bone marrow is tested
by in breast cancer tend to move to the bonefor the presence of cancer cells. If the count of
marrow first and then they spread to the othercancer cells is less, then it can be confirmed that the
parts of the body. Currently there are bonescancer is being controlled. The results were also
strengthening drugs available like Zometa that arecompared with women who were put just on
being prescribed to people who have low bonechemotherapy, and they did not show the same
density. The essential ingredient in this drug isprogress.
zoledronic acid. This acid decreases bone loss thatAlso, research participants, who were being given the
can be caused by chemotherapy and slows downbone strengthening drug due to low bone density at
the activity of the tumor cells that tend to make thethe beginning of the trial, ended up having normal
bone marrow their home.bone mass after a year's treatment.
In cancer the main problem is that the cells spread