Zoledronic Acid Injections after breast cancer treatment.

Hi Teresa59

I am due no 6 infusion in June , you can read my bio on my profile just click on my name .

What side effects did your consultant mention . I know we all different but the ones I have had and heard about on here are ….

Feeling a bit fluey for about a week 

Achy bones and gums feeling like sinus problem again about a week 

The main one to prepare for is a possible dental problem . I went to dentist for full check up if there needed to be any extractions treatment would have been delayed . This is because it can cause jaw issues so no excision of gum near treatment .

I was told no dental 6weeks either side of treatment was good guideline .  I lost a filling went to dentist who said could be done without drill just replace . I rang onco and she said fine and delayed treatment by two weeks .

This treatment is used to strengthen bones and is prescribed for osteoporosis and now to help prevent bone cancer .

My BC was HER2positive so after MX it  was chemo Then Herceptin injection for a year approx . Also 3 yr of zoledronic acid all to prevent recurrence 

Its hard making these decisions we’re all different so all I can say is how it was for me others will hopefully post with there experience to help you decide 

let us know how you get on 

Thank you Margaret, I think I’m feeling like everything is so never ending, my oncologist told me about the worst scenarios , teeth falling out, jaw weakening and face falling, has scared the hell out of me. The odds for it working 2 or 3 people out of 100 doesn’t seem to be very high, I already have neurathapy in both my hands and feet and have been given letrozole hormone therapy says I will be on them probably for life with all their side effects too, I have another week to make a decision so will look into it more. 

Here is some information from Macmillan about Zoledronic Acid. 

Here is a link doctors use a lot to calculate the efficacy of zoledronic acid, statistically speaking, for a patient, based on their information (click bisphosphonates on and off to see the difference in the outcome section.)

You may want to consult your dentist, to find out what they think about you taking this treatment. (In one case I am aware of, the patient was told no extractions would be possible while they were on this treatment, but that would have been specific to that patient and not necessarily true for others, and yet, important to know prior to starting treatment and the patient only found out once their dentist was consulted.)