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Bone Loss – A Side Effect of Conventional Cancer Treatment

Mar 10, 2009 by TacticularCancer.com

Bisphosphonates

Another aspect of the study was an evaluation of the usefulness of bisphosphonate treatment in fighting bone loss. “Bone is a dynamic tissue which undergoes a cyclic process of breaking down and rebuilding. Medications called bisphosphonates help with the rebuilding process and have been successfully used to combat osteoporosis, which is good news for cancer patients,” said Dr Saad.

More, however, will need to be done to look further into this area. “It is clear that the use of bisphosphonates attenuates bone loss. However, the optimal dosing and long-term impact is unclear and needs to be determined. Other measures to combat the bone loss, such as exercise, vitamin D intake, avoidance of cigarettes, may also be beneficial,” Dr Saad also said.

Conclusion

A recent Boston study had suggested that an alkalizing diet containing good amounts of fruits and vegetables may be helpful in preventing bone loss and improving bone health. The leader of that study, Dr Bess Dawson-Hughes, had said that “increasing the alkali content of the diet may attenuate bone loss in healthy older adults”. You may wish to read more about that study here: http://news.all4naturalhealth.com/boost-bone-health-by-eating-more-fruits-and-vegetables/

In addition, a 2007 study also revealed that exercise may reduce, or even reverse, bone loss which was caused by certain conventional cancer treatments.

Revisiting the revelations of the recent Canadian study, the findings on bone loss are useful for helping to evaluate the risks and dangers of conventional cancer treatment, as well as for putting in place necessary precautions for those undergoing such therapies. On the other hand, the findings on bisphosphonate drugs, however, would have to be read together with the fact that the study was in fact funded by grants from the pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis.

Source

Cancer Treatment May Result In Bone Loss, Study Finds (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081113140425.htm)

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