New Guidelines for Switching Drugs
If you have breast cancer that has spread to your bones and are wondering whether you should switch from Zometa to the newly approved drug Xgeva (denosumab), you'll be interested in the new ASCO guidelines issued this week.
ASCO, the American Society of Clinical Oncologists, says there is insufficient evidence to favor one treatment over the other. ASCO also responded to concerns about osteonecrosis of the jaw, which can occur with either drug, by recommending that "all patients should receive a dental examination and appropriate preventive dentistry before bone-modifying agent therapy and maintain optimal oral health."
They also recommended that "current standards of care for cancer bone pain management should be applied at the onset of pain, in concert with the initiation of bone modifying agent therapy." So don't try to tough it out, get pain meds as soon as you need them, and make sure your dentist understands your medical situation.
Posted February 23, 2011.
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Director of Metastatic Programs