Keeping Bones Healthy During Cancer Treatment
- Certain cancers and certain cancer treatments have been known to weaken the bones, leading to pain and sometimes breaks and fractures
- There are medications doctors can prescribe to prevent the loss of bone density
- There are also supplements and exercises your doctor may suggest to keep bones strong as you go through treatment and beyond
Some cancers, like multiple myeloma, have direct affects on the bones due to the nature of the disease. Others — like breast, prostate and lung cancers — may require treatment that affects bone health. For example, women who get breast cancer treatment that reduces the levels of estrogen in their body are at a higher risk for osteoporosis — or a weakening of the bones. These cancers also tend to spread to the bone if they progress and become metastatic. When cancer spreads from one organ to the bones the cancer becomes classified as stage IV or metastatic cancer.
Read More- Aromatase inhibitors — These drugs block aromatase from turning androgen into estrogen in the body, resulting in decreased estrogen levels and an increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
- Androgen Deprivation Therapy — This hormonal therapy given to some men with prostate cancer may result in bone density loss and fractures.
- Chemotherapy — Chemotherapy can affect the bone health in women when it shuts down the ovaries and causes early menopause in premenopausal women. Like aromatase inhibitors, chemotherapy that causes early menopause through ovarian inhibition leads to lower estrogen levels.
- Oophorectomy or medically shutting down ovaries — Removing ovaries surgically or medically shutting them down can lead to bone density issues.
Dr. Geoffrey Oxnard, a thoracic oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, shares some tips for staying healthy while you go through cancer treatment.
A doctor may prescribe certain medications to help with bone loss or bone pain from metastatic cancer, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), including:
Treatment for bone loss often involves the use of bone-modifying drugs. These drugs slow the rate of bone thinning. They may also reduce new bone damage and promote healing. People who have bone pain from metastatic cancer also often receive these drugs. Bone-modifying drugs include:
- Bisphosphonates — These drugs block cells that destroy bones, which are called osteoclasts. By blocking these cells, the drugs help bone-building cells to work more effectively.
- RANK ligand inhibitors — These drugs can be used to manage osteoporosis and prevent bone fractures and breaks and are sometimes used in patients with multiple myeloma or bone metastasis. They work by binding to a protein that is essential for bone-destroying cells and inhibiting those cells from properly functioning.
There are also many lifestyle adjustments your doctor may recommend, including both supplements and specific types of exercise, according to ASCO.
Managing bone loss and pain may include a combination of the following:
- Supplements — Your doctor may recommend taking vitamin D and calcium supplements, as both contribute to healthy bones
- Exercise — Weight-bearing exercise in particular, such as walking, dancing, using an elliptical, and low-impact aerobics, contribute to overall bone health. This type of exercise also helps build muscle, which can help with balance
- Maintaining a healthy weight — Keeping a nutritious diet and maintaining a healthy weight is important to bone health
Dr. Sairah Ahmed, of MD Anderson Cancer Center, explains the role diet and exercise plays in cancer treatment.
The treatment recommendations may vary depending on if cancer has spread to the bones, or metastasized, and what a person’s overall health is. Some patients may be able to incorporate more exercise into their daily routines, while others should be sure to keep intensity levels low.
Some cancer survivors have used other natural remedies, such as medical marijuana, to cope with pain when cancer spreads to the bones and had great success.
Many patients turn to cannabis after running into problems with more traditional pain medications, Dr. Junella Chin, an integrative cannabis physician, told SurvivorNet in a previous conversation.
For many, this approach can help alleviate pain while reducing inflammation at the same time, Dr. Chin said.
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