This patient-friendly article is about chemotherapy drug, Zoledronate (Zometa zoledronic acid) which is a bisphosphonate used for osteoporosis and bone metastases in breast and lung cancers and multiple myeloma. It helps to slow down the destruction of bone in bone secondaries.
It is not licensed yet for use in prostate cancer in the UK, but data from three clinical trials, involving more than 3,000 patients, have shown that it is more effective at preventing or delaying complications such as bone fractures, compression of the spinal cord, and severe bone pain than Pamidronate. In the US, patients who were given this drug also experienced longer periods before relapse than those who received Pamidronate (30 days versus 17 days for Pamidronate). Other advantages include the time needed for the infusion, which is much shorter at just 15 minutes.
Side effects can include: fever, chills, bone pain, muscle or joint pain, swelling in the feet or legs, nausea or vomiting.
Go to: 10 ways to improve your chemotherapy success and reduce side-effects
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- A diet for Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy overview
- A to Z Guide to Complementary Therapies
Go to: Return to the CANCERactive drug list