Prostate cancer tends to metastasize to bones as opposed to soft tissue and other organs. We have no idea why it does have a preference for bone, but it does. Developing bone metastases in prostrate cancer is a very strong negative prognostic indicator. Prostate cancer’s tendency to favor bone over soft tissue causes significant morbidity [...]
Many of our doctors are constantly vigilant about our developing skeletal related issues. Having advanced prostate cancer and receiving treatment for this disease increases our odds of developing skeletal issues which affect both our quality of life and our mortality. Drugs like denosumab (Xgeva) and zoledronic acid (Zometa) are important in delaying the onset of [...]
Randy Sheffield, a member of the Malecare Advanced Prostate Cancer Online support group recently has had his fight with advanced prostate cancer made even more complex when he developed Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). ONJ is an uncommon but terrible side effect of taking bisphosphonates. Randy wrote a warning to all the members of the [...]
Chemotherapy using docetaxel remains an important therapy, despite the newly approved drugs, to treat hormone refractory prostate cancer. Chemotherapy improves survival, however, all men taking it will eventually become refractory to the treatment. Zoledronic acid (ZA) is the most potent member of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate family and has anti-tumor activity in prostate cancer. In a study, [...]
Xgeva is used in men with advanced and metastatic prostate cancer with bone metastases for the prevention of developing additional skeletal-related events (not to be confused with bone mineral density). In a phase 3 trial, the 147 Study, evaluating denosumab (Xgeva) versus placebo 1,432 men with castrate-resistant prostate cancer demonstrated that Xgeva improved median bone [...]