This patient-friendly article is about chemotherapy drug, Pamidronate Aredia which is a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate. Such drugs are used with breast cancer patients who are at risk of osteoporosis from the use of oestrogen blocking drugs. Breast cancer can metastasise to the bone, so drugs like pamidronate inhibit bone resorption (where the bone breaks down, transferring calcium from bone fluid to the blood). As well as the bone damage, too much calcium in the blood can overload the kidneys. Clinical studies have shown that patients on pamidronate tend to experience a delay in or reduction of bone pain, fractures, and other bone complications than patients who do not receive it. It is usually given intravenously.
Side effects can include: fever, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, initial bone pain, lack of appetite and anaemia (decrease in red blood cells).
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