A new review suggests that bisphosphonates can help prevent bone complications among women with breast cancer.

A major complication with breast cancer is its tendency to spread to the bones. A review of all the evidence shows that bisphosphonates, drugs which are used to treat osteoporosis, can reduce bone complications in women with breast cancer.

Over 30 studies were reviewed and this revealed that patients given bisphosphonates are much less likely to suffer from fractures, or to need orthopedic surgery or radiotherapy for cancer that's spread to the bone. Patients with breast cancer on bisphosphonates tend to stay free of bone complications for longer. However, the drugs do not give any overall survival advantage.

Source

British Medical Journal 30th August 2003