Breast cancer battle may be won by a new weapon- the Bone Drugs

Breast cancer is a deadly ailment that claims millions of lives of women all over the world each year. Though there are many treatments which are being worked upon, but the true effectiveness of majority of these is yet to be established. A new ray of hope for all the breast cancer patients is being looked upon in the form of bone drugs. The continued use of a drug which is used in cure of osteoporosis can effectively reduce risk of breast cancer, though the fact is yet to be fully accepted by the experts. This fact has been the result of two studies which were presented at Symposium on breast cancer in San Antonio.

According to the first study women who used bisphosphonates which is a cure against osteoporosis showed 32 percent less chances of suffering from breast cancer. The other study which was done in north Israel also showed similar results. According to this study continued use of bisphosphonates for five years or more portrayed a fall by 29 percent in women suffering from post menopausal breast cancer. Drugs such as Boniva, Reclast, Actonel and Fosamax are bisphosphonates drugs and they may work to stop or slow down the dissolving of bones owing to osteoporosis. While all experts are still not convinced about the true effectiveness of this proposed study , many feel that it is a very important discovery and will be looked on now in a more planned manner.

Senior medical and health editor from ABC news Dr. Richard Besser while on Good Morning America said that the reason for the success of bone drugs in treating breast cancer could be their toxicity to cancer cells. He also added that the drugs could also block the development of breast cancer. But, Dr. Besser also included that this study still needs to be completely developed and women should not run to start with bisphosphonates to reduce risk of this cancer.

According to Dr. Sandhya Pruthi these studies should be added on by a good follow-up which can establish this relation between bone drugs and breast cancer further. Bisphosphonates are not without side effects and the prescription of these to a patient without osteoporosis is not right according to Dr. Pruthi.

Whatever be the arguments, this study has opened up a new door in fight against the deadly breast cancer and may save lives in future. One of the other aspects of this study is also the discovery of positive effects of bisphosphonates other then in osteoporosis.