| The recent announcement by Elizabeth | | | | strengthen bone, are not very effective |
| Edwards, the wife of Democratic | | | | at controlling pain. External beam |
| presidential candidate John Edwards, | | | | radiation, while effective, can only |
| that her breast cancer has recurred and | | | | target a few painful lesions at a time. |
| spread to her bones, is not something | | | | Another class of drugs used to treat |
| that any cancer survivor or caregiver | | | | cancer-related bone pain is |
| ever wants to hear. Fortunately, Ms. | | | | radiopharmaceuticals. |
| Edwards and thousands of women fighting | | | | Radiopharmaceuticals are drugs that |
| recurrent breast cancer now have a | | | | combine a radionuclide (radiation) with |
| greater range of options to battle the | | | | a pharmaceutical. Studies have shown |
| disease and its many negative effects, | | | | that most patients with a positive bone |
| especially pain. | | | | scan who are suffering from pain can |
| Pain affects most people with cancer as | | | | experience relief lasting for months |
| the disease progresses. One of the most | | | | following a single injection with a |
| common causes of pain in advanced cancer | | | | radiopharmaceutical. |
| is bone metastases (cancer that has | | | | In the past, radiopharmaceuticals for |
| spread to the bone). Bone metastases | | | | bone pain have been underutilized due to |
| occur in an estimated 65-75 percent of | | | | concerns over myelosuppression (a drop |
| patients with breast or prostate cancer | | | | in a patient's white blood cell, red |
| and in 70-95 percent of patients with | | | | blood cell and/or platelet counts), and |
| multiple myeloma (cancer that begins in | | | | the belief that repeat doses of these |
| the blood). As cancer progresses, bone | | | | treatments cannot be given. |
| pain caused by metastases often | | | | According to new research, however, one |
| increases in intensity. | | | | of these agents, called Quadramet(r) |
| Fortunately, there are a number of | | | | (samarium SM 153 lexidronam injection), |
| treatment options available for bone | | | | may be more useful than previously |
| pain. Potential treatments include | | | | thought. |
| opioid analgesics, which are | | | | "Quadramet can provide very long-lasting |
| prescription narcotic pain medicines; a | | | | pain relief for people with cancer |
| class of drugs called bisphosphonates, | | | | suffering from bone pain," said Dr. |
| used to help strengthen bone and slow | | | | Oliver Sartor, M.D. from Dana-Farber |
| the progression of bone metastases; and | | | | Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical |
| external beam radiation, where | | | | School, Boston, Massachusetts. "We've |
| physicians target a beam of radiation | | | | also found that multiple doses of |
| directly at painful bone lesions. | | | | Quadramet can be given over time, and |
| All these options can be effective but | | | | pain relief with each treatment seems to |
| have downsides, too. For example, | | | | be similar to what patients experience |
| increasing doses of opioid analgesics is | | | | after their first dose," he added. |
| usually necessary to control increasing | | | | With cancer patients now living longer |
| pain. As doses increase, so do side | | | | than ever before, this is good news for |
| effects like excessive sleepiness, | | | | those suffering from bone pain, and |
| nausea and breathing difficulties. | | | | their doctors. |
| Bisphosphonates, while helping to | | | | |