Onions and Garlic: 2 Veggies That Can Help Prevent Cancer

We have written time and again about types of foods one should avoid to prevent cancer, with processed and red meat, alcohol, and even fruit juices being among the worst offenders. But are there any specific food recommendations for those who want to prevent cancer beyond the usual tips like “eat more fiber” or “eat more fruit and vegetables”? Tomatoes are one possible addition, but there’s a catch, so we recommend reading our article about tomatoes and cancer prevention here. Other recommendations, those we’ll focus on in this article, are onions and garlic, that have been time and time again associated with cancer-fighting properties.

More specifically, these pungent veggies have been shown to prevent breast cancer and colorectal cancer, as well as prostate and stomach cancer. The strongest and latest evidence is in relation to colorectal and breast cancer. At the beginning of 2019, one study at the First Hospital of China Medical University has shown that the two vegetables seemed to contribute to the prevention of colorectal cancer, one of the top five most widespread cancers.

The researchers concluded that the more onions and garlic you eat, the better the protective effects. The authors matched 833 participants with colorectal cancer with an equal number of control subjects matched by age, sex, and area of residence, and found a 79% decrease in colorectal cancer recurrence in the group of subjects who ate the most onions and garlic.

A more recent article researching breast cancer in women in Puerto Rico also found that high onion and garlic consumption seems to lower one’s risk of breast cancer. Similarly to the Chinese study, the Puerto Rican research matched 314 women aged 30-79 with a history of breast cancer between 2008 and 2014 demographically to an equal number of control subjects

The study reported a 67% lower breast cancer risk in the group of participants who had the highest sofrito intake, which is a popular Puerto Rican condiment consisting predominantly of onions and garlic.

Understandably, this last study had some limitations, as the authors point out themselves, "Although the recipe for sofrito varies to some extent, other ingredients, such as bell peppers, tomatoes, cilantro, and black pepper are usually added. Since we did not adjust our models for these ingredients, we cannot be sure that our results were due to the sole effect of onions and garlic."

Still, the cancer hindering effects of onions and garlic are becoming increasingly robust, and scientists may have even discovered why. The compounds associated with cancer-fighting properties of onions and garlic, also known as allium vegetables in medical terminology, are flavanols and organosulfur compounds. These two groups of chemicals naturally occurring in onions, garlic, spring onions, and leeks have been found both epidemiologically and in a lab, setting to hinder the development of several types of cancer cells, and so consuming these vegetables in high quantities is beneficial. 

 

Needless to say, the consumption of healthy foods like these and others alone will not prevent cancer on its own, you also need to avoid high-risk foods, as well as stay active and stress-free, not to mention undergo preventative medical examinations on a regular basis.

 

I use both of them in almost all my recipes being a cancer survivor. Most important keep a watch on your body, anything unusual, not necessary it causes pain, as most cancer nodes are painless. It can be on your skin, nails, urine, stools, when you bathe each day, as you soap, just be sure to feel all parts of the body, anything suspicious, please visit your doctor at once. Cancer in early stages are curable. Most important one has to be very positive.

 

 

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement
https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com  for infor on cancer and health related topics
https://GSiyers home remedies.blogspot.com   is the latest addition to my blogs. I'm going to add posts there, do give me your valuable feed back on my blogs. Thanks a lot, take care, be healthy and be happy.

 

10 Foods to Promote Prostate Health

While awareness about cancer should be shared by both of the sexes, a number of surveys show that women are generally more aware and knowledgeable about their risk for certain cancers than men. However, there are a number of cancers that men should know about and actively care for, one of them being prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the male reproductive system and unfortunately spreads slowly. For the latter reason, many men don't recognize the development of prostate cancer until its too late. Besides consulting with your doctor and scheduling regular prostate exams, there are a number of nutrients in the foods that we eat that may help prevent and even treat issues in the prostate.

Incorporate some, or all of these foods into your diet to keep your prostate health in check.

1. Brazil Nuts
These large and delicious nuts are good for prostate health because they are rich in a nutrient called selenium, which has been associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer. Just one ounce of Brazil nuts contains almost ten times the recommended daily value for selenium in your diet, which bodes very well for the state of your prostate. The nuts are also a good source of zinc, which is another mineral essential to prostate health, and amino acids which are a great source of protein.

2. Broccoli
Broccoli is a member of the cruciferous family, a family of vegetables shared with cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and kale. Cruciferous vegetables contain high amounts of sulforaphane and indoles, which are plant-based nutrients that have remarkable anti-cancer and cleansing properties. In scientific trials, it was found that eating broccoli more than once a week could reduce the probability of contracting the later (and more serious) stages of prostate cancer by nearly 45 percent. The healthiest way to consume broccoli (to maximize its nutrient content) is to steam or sauté the broccoli for about 5 minutes (and no more).

3. Cayenne pepper
The cayenne pepper is known for being hot and spicy, but it is also an excellent source of prostate healthy nutrients. The cayenne pepper is spicy due to a high concentration of a substance called capsaicin, which is renowned for its ability to reduce pain, but also helps kill off cancer cells. In studies, capsaicin has demonstrated an ability to cause cancer cells to 'commit suicide', by attacking the energy-making portion of the cell (the mitochondria). Capsaicin is also known for its cardiovascular benefits (it's a strong antioxidant), as a preventative treatment for stomach ulcers, and as a great regulator of blood sugar levels.
 
4. Green Tea
This superfood is noted for its numerous health benefits, one of them being the ability to fight off several forms of cancer, including prostate cancer. Green tea contains compounds called catechins, the most important of them being EGCG which notably lowers the levels of dangerous biomarkers attributed to cancer. The nutrients in green tea may also help men who have pre-cancerous prostate lesions, one of the first signs of more serious prostate complications, including cancer. To maximize the effects of green tea, experts recommend that you consume about three cups daily.
 
5. Mushrooms
Mushrooms are great for prostate health, but Asian mushrooms are especially good for you. The shiitake mushroom, for instance, contains a substance called lentinan, which has demonstrated miraculous anti-cancer properties. Asian mushrooms also contain a potent antioxidant called L-ergothioneine, which has the ability to protect cells throughout the body from cancerous invasion.

6. Pomegranates
Not only does this succulent red fruit taste wonderful, it is also noted for being high in antioxidants and a nutrient called ellagitannin, which especially promotes prostate health. Some studies show that the pomegranate can even slow the reproduction of prostate cancer cells and can even kill them off. Pomegranates are also noted for their ability to interfere with the growth of new blood vessels, which usually nourishes prostate tumors. If you don't have the actual fruit available (it is seasonal at the end of summer and into the early fall), pomegranate juice is an accessible and tasty way to get all of the fruit's nutrients.

7. Pumpkin Seeds
Yes, as evident from this list, stocking up on seeds and nuts is never a bad thing, especially when it comes to delicious pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds have been proven to benefit men with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), which is a condition affecting men aged 50 and older, where the prostate gland swells and enlarges. This swelling and enlargement is caused by the overstimulation of prostate cells by testosterone and other hormones, and the oil of pumpkin seeds has been shown to prevent the effect of these hormones on prostate health.

8. Salmon
Another superfood noted for its healthy qualities, salmon also supports prostate health because it is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. New research has found that the omega-3 in fish (not only salmon, although it is the most popular fish) can slow the development of prostate tumors in men who have the disease, and can prevent the disease from developing at all for those who don't. Indeed, a study published in "Clinical Cancer Research" reported that eating fish or salmon once a week could reduce a man's chance of developing prostate cancer, even if he is genetically predisposed to contract the disease.
 
9. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are rich in a nutrient called lycopene, which is a potent antioxidant that has proven itself to promote and enhance prostate health. Surprisingly, unlike a number of other fruits and vegetables, the nutritional benefits of tomatoes increase when they are processed, as opposed to fresh tomatoes. When the tomatoes are cooked into a paste, soup, sauce or made into a juice, the lycopene content is more easily absorbed by the body. Eating just one serving of tomatoes a day, either in your Bloody Mary or even on pizza, can protect against DNA damage that could set the stage for the development of prostate cancer.
 
10. Turmeric
Turmeric has been used as a medicinal herb for centuries, and is also an excellent way to enhance prostate health. The spice is used to fight off inflammation, colds, asthma, and when combined with a cruciferous vegetable like broccoli or kale, is effective in preventing and even treating prostate cancer. Turmeric is usually added to curries and spicy dishes due to its bitter and peppery flavor, but adding a dash of it to your cooking could not only add welcome spice to your meal, but also dramatically improve your prostate health.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

Johns Hopkins researchers make progress in the development of noninvasive urine test for prostate cancer

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have made significant progress toward development of a simple, noninvasive liquid biopsy test that detects prostate cancer from RNA and other specific metabolic chemicals in the urine.

A description of their findings appears in the Feb. 28 issue of the journal Scientific Reports.

The investigators emphasize that this is a proof-of-principle study for the urine test, and it must be validated in additional, larger studies before it is ready for clinical use.

The researchers used RNA deep-sequencing and mass spectrometry to identify a previously unknown profile of RNAs and dietary byproducts, known as metabolites, among 126 patients and healthy, normal people. The cohort included 64 patients with prostate cancer, 31 with benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis diseases, and 31 healthy people with none of these conditions. RNA alone was not sufficient to positively identify the cancer, but addition of a group of disease-specific metabolites provided separation of cancer from other diseases and healthy people.

"A simple and noninvasive urine test for prostate cancer would be a significant step forward in diagnosis. Tissue biopsies are invasive and notoriously difficult because they often miss cancer cells, and existing tests, such as PSA (prostate-specific antigen) elevation, are not very helpful in identifying cancer," says Ranjan Perera, Ph.D., the study's senior author. Perera is also the director of the Center for RNA Biology at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, a senior scientist at the Johns Hopkins All Children's Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute and the Johns Hopkins All Children's Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, and an associate professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center member.

We discovered cancer-specific changes in urinary RNAs and metabolites that -- if confirmed in a larger, separate group of patients -- will allow us to develop a urinary test for prostate cancer in the future."  Bongyong Lee, Ph.D., study's first author and a senior scientist at the Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement 

Effective Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate gland, which is situated located below the bladder, directly in front of the rectum. Considered the most prevalent form of cancer in American men with roughly 162,000 new cases diagnosed each year, However, prostate cancer is quite treatable, particularly if caught early. Of course, as with any cancer, treatment course for prostate cancer will depend on the tumor size, cancer stage, as well as the overall health of the patient.

Here are the most common treatment options for prostate cancer:
1. Watch and wait
low-risk prostate cancers that are diagnosed early may not require treatment at all. In fact, many doctors opt to “watch and wait”, which refers to surveilling the cancer progression regularly with regular rectal exams, blood tests, and biopsies before more invasive steps (i.e., surgery) are taken. This is common in cases where cancer is located in a small area and patients of older age aren’t experiencing any symptoms.

2. Surgery
Surgery for prostate cancer is known as a radical prostatectomy, which consists of removing the prostate gland. Radical prostatectomy is rather “radical” indeed, as doctors perform the surgery using a hand controlled console that guides a mechanical robot to make a precise incision in the patient’s abdomen to remove the prostate gland. Radical prostatectomy does carry a risk of erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction following surgery.

3. Hormone therapy
Hormone therapy can be used as as effective way to prevent the body from producing testosterone, which can kill or slow the further growth of prostate cancer cells. Hormone therapy is commonly used in early stage prostate cancer cases to shrink tumors prior to other treatments, or to shrink later stage cancers. This therapy calls on luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (or LH-RH) agonists to stop the testicles from producing testosterone, or anti-androgens to block testosterone from reaching 
cancerous cells.

4. Biological therapy
Biological therapy is a form of immunotherapy that genetically engineers the patient’s own immune cells to kill their prostate cancer. The cells are lab engineered then injected back into the body to improve and decrease the cancer.

5. Radiation and chemo
Radiation therapy aims high-powered radiation rays directly at cancer cells in order to destroy them. Chemotherapy, is often used via an injection to stop the spread of rapidly growing cancer cells that have metastasized to other areas of the body.

6. Cryosurgery
Also known as cryoablation, this prostate cancer treatment involves freezing prostate tissue in order to kill cancer cells. Cryosurgery inserts a series of tiny needles are inserted into the prostate and emits a cold gas to freeze cancer cells and surrounding tissues. Next, a heated gas is emitted to reheat the same tissues.

7. Proton Beam Radiation

This special kind of radiation therapy uses very small particles to attack and kill cancer cells that haven't spread.

8.Immunotherapy

This treatment works with your immune system to fight the disease. It’s used to treat advanced prostate cancer.

9. Bisphosphonate Therapy

If the disease reaches your bones, these drugs can ease pain and prevent fractures.

10. High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound

This device produces sound waves that deliver heat energy to kill cancer cells. It’s unclear how well it works, as it hasn’t yet been compared with other standard prostate cancer treatments.

11. Prostate Cancer Vaccine

Most work by boosting your body's defenses so it can fight an infection. The prostate cancer vaccine  gets your immune system to attack cancer cells. This treatment works best if you’ve tried hormone therapy and it isn't working anymore. The vaccine is custom-made for you. Scientists don’t know if it stops or slows down the cancer’s growth, but it does seem to help men live longer with prostate cancer.

Are There Side Effects?

The treatments for prostate cancer also can affect your body in other ways. Side effects can include:

• Bowel problems
• Lower sex drive
• Erectile dysfunction
  
• Loss of your ability to get a woman pregnant
• Leaky bladder or loss of bladder control. You might also need to pee a lot more often.

Side effects are another thing to think about when you’re choosing a treatment. If they’re too tough to handle, you might want to change your approach. Talk to your doctor about what you can expect. He can also help you find ways to manage your side effects.

What Else Should You Consider?

Remember, you have options, and it’s important to choose the one that works best for you. When choosing a treatment, think about:

• The risks. Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of each type of therapy.
• The side effects. Consider whether or not you’re willing to deal with how the treatment might make you feel.
• Whether or not you need it. Not all men with prostate cancer need to be treated right away.
• Your age and overall health. For older men or those with other serious health conditions, treatment may be less appealing than watchful waiting.

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement     

Men with prostate cancer can live longer on immunotherapy

In what could be a piece of great news for men with advanced prostate cancer, a new study has claimed that they can live two more years or even more on immunotherapy.

Yes, the study has found that those with advanced prostate cancer who have exhausted all other treatment options could benefit from immunotherapy.

Researchers also found that a small proportion of men were ' super responders' and were alive and well even after the trial had ended despite having had a very poor prognosis before treatment.

They found that one in 20 men with end-stage prostate cancer responded to the immunotherapy pembrolizumab-- but although the number who benefited was small, these patients sometimes gained years of extra life.

The most dramatic responses came in patients whose tumours had mutations in genes involved in repairing DNA, and the researchers are investigating whether this group might especially benefit from immunotherapy.

The phase ll clinical trial was led globally by a team at ' The Institute of Cancer Research,  London, and the Royal Marsden Foundation Trust, and involved 258 men with advanced prostate cancer who had previously been treated and become resistant to androgen deprivation therapy and docetaxel chemotherapy.

Overall, 5 % of men treated with pembrolizumab saw their tumours actually shrink or disappear, while a larger group of 19 % had some evidence of tumour response with a decrease in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level.

Among a group of 166 patients with particularly advanced disease and high levels of PSA, the average length of survival was 8.1 months with pembrolizumab.

Nine of these patients saw their disease disappear or partly disappear on scans. And of these, 4 were super responders who remained on treatment at the end of study follow-up, with responses lasting for at least 22 months.

Meanwhile, a 2nd group of patients whose PSA levels were lower but whose disease had spread to the bone lived for an average of 14.1 months on pembrolizumab.

The study also compared the effectiveness of pembrolizumab in men whose tumours had a protein called PD-L1 on the surface of their cancer cells and those whose tumours did not.

Targeting PD-L1 activity with pembrolizumab takes the ' brakes ' off the immune system, setting free to attack cancer cells.

Commenting on the findings, Prof. Johann de Bono, Regius Prof. of Cancer Research at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said : 'Our study has shown that a small proportion of men with very advanced prostate cancer are super responders to immunotherapy and could live for at least 2 years and possibly considerably longer".

Adding to it, Prof. Paul Workman, Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said : " Immunotherapy has had tremendous benefits for sine cancer patients and it's fantastic news that even in prostate cancer, where we don't see much immune activity, a proportion of men are responding well to treatment".

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement     

Medications to Treat Cancer That Has Spread to Bones

Cancer that has spread to bones ( bone metastasis) is very common and can cause a great deal of pain and disability related to fractures and other complications. In recent years medications called bone-modifying agents have been recommended for many cancers to treat bone metastases as soon as they are diagnosed. In this setting, these drugs not only reduce the risk of fractures but may, in some cases, improve survival.

As a secondary benefit, both categories of bone-modifying drugs have anti-cancer properties. What do you need to know about drugs such as Zometa and denosumab if you're living with metastatic cancer?

Bone Metastases vs. Bone Cancer

When people hear about cancer in the bones, it can be very confusing. Most of the time when people talk about "bone cancer" they are referring to bone metastases; cancers that began in another region of the body and spread to the bones. While these people may use the term "bone cancer," cancers which spread to bones are not considered bone cancer. For example, a breast cancer which has spread to bones is not called bone cancer but rather "breast cancer metastatic to bones'" or breast cancer with bone metastases. Primary bone cancer is much less common than bone metastases. Under the microscope, bone cancer would show cancerous bone cells. In contrast, with bone metastases the cancer cells in the bone are the same tissue as the original cancer; cancerous breast cells in the case of breast cancer, cancerous lung cells in the bone (with lung cancer) and so on.

With primary bone cancer, there is usually a single tumor in one bone. With bone metastases, there is often evidence of cancer in different areas of a bone or in several different bones.

Cancers Which May Spread to Bone 

There are many cancers which can spread to bone the most common being breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and multiple myeloma. Other cancers which may spread to bone include kidney cancer, stomach cancer, bladder cancer, uterine cancer, thyroid cancer, and colorectal cancers.

Bone metastases occur in roughly 70 percent of women with metastatic breast cancer (bones are the most common site of metastases), and bone metastases from breast cancer are a significant cause of pain and disability for these women (and men). For many of these people, bone metastases are the first sign that the cancer has recurred after years or even decades of remission. Some of the hormonal treatments used for breast cancer (such as aromatase inhibitors) can lead to bone loss, further compounding the problem. The most common bones to which breast cancer spreads are the spine, the ribs, the pelvis, and the bones of the upper legs and arms.

Bone metastases from lung cancer are also common, affecting roughly 30 to 40 percent of people with advanced lung cancer. The bones most commonly affected are the spine, pelvis, and upper leg and arm bones. Lung cancer is fairly unique in that metastases may occur to the bones in the hands and feet. Among people with bone metastases from lung cancer, 22 to 59 percent will experience a "skeletal-related event" such as a fracture.

Bone metastases are also common in advanced prostate cancer. As with women with breast cancer, hormonal treatments with androgen deprivation therapy can also weaken bones. Four out of five men with metastatic prostate cancer will have metastases to bone. Common site of metastases are the hips, spine, and pelvic bones.

Bone metastases from multiple myeloma are also common. On an x-ray, the bones take on a moth-eaten appearance. When multiple myeloma invades bones the cancer cells both inhibit the bone making cells (osteoblasts) and stimulate the bone cells which break down bone (osteoclasts). Multiple myeloma is usually found in larger bones such as the spine, the skull, the pelvis, the ribs, and the larger bones of the legs.

Types of Bone Metastases

There are two primary types of bone metastases: osteolytic and osteoblastic. With osteolytic metastases, the tumor causes the breakdown (lysis) of bone. Osteolytic metastases are seen with multiple myeloma as well as solid tumors such as breast cancer. Osteoblastic metastases result in increased bone production and are most commonly seen with prostate cancer. Most cancers have both types of bone metastases although 80 to 85 percent of metastases with breast cancer are osteolytic. Fractures are more likely to occur in bones with osteolytic metastases than osteoblastic metastases. 

Complications From Bone Metastases

Bone metastases can greatly reduce your quality of life with cancer, yet newer treatments are making a difference for many people. Not only do bone metastases mean a cancer has spread and is no longer curable, but can lead to several complications.

Pain from bone metastases can be very severe and often requires treatment with narcotic pain relievers along with anti-inflammatory medications.

Bone metastases also increase the chance of a fracture in the areas of bone which are weakened by a tumor. When a fracture occurs in bones with metastatic cancer they are referred to as a pathologic fracture. Pathologic fractures may occur with very mild injuries. In addition to predisposing to fractures, bone metastases can make it difficult for fractured bones to heal.

When metastases occur to the lower spine, an emergency condition called spinal cord compression  may occur. Cancer in the vertebrae can cause them to collapse and compress the nerves traveling from the spinal cord to the lower half of the body. Symptoms include back pain that radiates down the leg, weakness, and numbness of the legs, and loss of bowel and/or bladder control. Emergent treatment with radiation or surgery can stabilize the spine to avoid permanent disability.

Hypercalcemia of malignancy or a high calcium level in the blood may occur due to the release of calcium from destroyed sections of bone into the bloodstream. It's thought that 10 to 15 percent of people with advanced cancer will suffer from this condition (which has other causes as well in addition to bone metastases). 

Loss of mobility due to fractures not only reduces quality of life but can put you at risk of other problems. The risk of blood clots in people with cancer is already increased, and immobility raises the risk of developing deep vein thromboses or pulmonary embolism.

Treatments for Bone Metastases

There are currently many different options available for treating bone metastases. Some of the general treatments used for metastatic cancer may also reduce bone metastases. These treatments may include chemotherapy, targeted therapies, monoclonal antibodies, and immunotherapy drugs. There are also treatments which address bone metastases specifically. These include:

• Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy is a local therapy and can significantly reduce both pain and the likelihood of a fracture occurring. 
• Radiopharmaceuticals: Radiopharmaceutics are drugs in which a particle of radiation is attached to another chemical which can then be injected into the bloodstream. Examples include Strontium-89 and Radium-223. Since these particles of radiation are carried through the bloodstream to all of the bones in the body, they may be particularly effective for people with many or widespread metastases.
• Surgery: Surgery may be needed to stabilize a fracture or stabilize damaged bones to prevent a fracture.
• Stereotactic body radiotherapy  (SBRT) and proton beam therapy: For a single or only a few metastases (oligometastatic disease), eradication of the metastases with treatments such as stereotactic body radiotherapy or proton therapy may be done with a curative attempt, but this is very uncommon.
• Bone-modifying agents: These will be discussed below.

Medications for Bone Metastases (Bone-Modifying Agents)

There are two primary classes of drugs used to treat bone metastases. These include bisphosphates (such as Zometa) and denosumab. Bone-modifying agents are recommended for anyone with breast cancer metastatic to bone, and is frequently used with other solid tumors (such as lung cancer) as well. Other treatments (such as radiation therapy) are usually needed along with medications to control pain.

Bone-modifying agents can help people with cancer in several ways.

• They can strengthen bones affected by metastases to reduce both pain and the risk of fractures 
• Many of the treatments used for breast cancer and prostate cancer, can increase the risk of osteoporosis, and along with bone metastases predispose people to fractures. This is especially important as people are now living longer with cancer.
• Due to their effects on the microenvironment of bones, bone-modifying agents may reduce the risk of bone metastases occurring in the first place (with breast cancer and possibly prostate cancer thus far). The risk of bone metastases was lowered by up to one third, while the mortlity rate dropped by one-sixth.
• In recent studies looking at bone-modifying agents with lung cancer, it appears that these drugs may improve both progression-free and overall survival.

Bisphosphonates (Zometa)

Bisphosphonates are medications which were first used to treat osteoporosis and later noted to help with bone metastases. When used for cancers which have spread to bones they can do double duty. Not only can they reduce bone loss but they have anti-cancer effects as well. They work by suppressing the breakdown of bone to improve bone density.

Bisphosphonates most commonly used for bone metastases include:

• Zometa (zoledronic acid): Zometa is an intravenous medication used for bone metastases from many different cancers.
• Aredia (pamidronate): Aredia is an intravenous bisphosphonate. It is approved for breast cancer and multiple myeloma.

The most common side effects of Zometa and Aredia are a mild flu-like syndrome for the first few days after the infusion. Other less common side effects of bisphosphonates given intravenously may include kidney damage, low calcium levels, muscle, joint, and/or bone pain (which can arise any time after treatment), unusual fractures of the femur, and atrial fibrillation. Bisphosphonates may not be recommended for people with kidney disease.

An uncommon but serious adverse event associated with Zometa use (and other bisphosphonates) is osteonecrosis of the jaw . This condition is characterized by the progressive breakdown in an area of bone in either the mandible or maxilla and can be challenging to It's not known exactly how often the condition occurs, but a risk of roughly 2 percent was found in women who were treated with Zometa as adjuvant therapy for early-stage breast cancer. Osteonecrosis may occur with any drugs in the category of bisphosphonates but 94 percent of cases are found with intravenous bisphosphonate drugs and it is very uncommon with oral drugs.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw is more likely if people suffer from gum disease, have poor dental hygiene, or undergo dental procedures such as tooth extraction. There is some evidence that scheduling dental examination every three months and using preventive antibiotics for procedures such as tooth extraction may reduce risk. Treatment options include a combination of surgery, rinses, antibiotics, and hyperbaric oxygen treatments.

Bisphosphonates are also approved for postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer. In clinical trials, Zometa was found to reduce the risk of developing bone metastases by one-third and the risk of death by one-sixth.

Denosumab (Xgeva and Prolia)

Xgeva and Prolia (denosumab) is a monoclonal antibody (man-made antibody) which can reduce complications (such as fractures) associated with bone metastases. There are two formulations of this drug which have somewhat different indications with cancer. They are given by injection every four weeks.

Denosumab works by binding with and inactivating a receptor on a protein (RANKL) that regulates bone remodeling. There are two main types of cells in the bones: osteoblasts which cause bone growth, and osteoclasts which break down bone. Denosumab inhibits osteoclasts and increases bone density.

In a 2016 review of studies, denosumab was evaluated in three separate clinical trials looking at its role in breast cancer, prostate cancer, and a third study with people who had multiple myeloma or solid tumors other than breast or prostate cancer. With breast cancer and prostate cancer, denosumab was superior to Zometa in reducing the risk of fractures related to bone metastases. With multiple myeloma and other solid tumors (such denosumab was roughly equivalent in effectiveness to Zometa.

With lung cancer, a 2015 study found that compared with Zometa, denosumab reduced the risk of a fracture occurring by 17 percent. It also appears to delay the development of bone metastases, reduce skeletal tumor growth, and improved survival time by a little over a month.

Denosumab was also found to reduce the risk of treatment-related osteoporosis in breast cancer and prostate cancer (related to the use of aromatase inhibitors in breast cancer and androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancer).

Side effects of denosumab are similar to bisphosphonates but these drugs are more likely to result in a low calcium level with long-term use. For this reason, taking a supplement of calcium and vitamin D is often recommended. Unlike bisphosphonates, denosumab may be used in people with impaired kidney function. As with bisphosphonates, there is a small risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw with these drugs.

Guidelines for Bone-Modifying Agents With Bone Metastases

Studies on bone-modifying agents have led to guidelines being in place for some cancers.

For metastatic breast cancer, with bone metastases, the American Society of Clinical Oncology guideline from 2017 recommend women be treated with one of the following drugs as soon as bone metastases are detected:

• Xgeva or Prolia 120 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks
• Aredia 90 mg IV every 3 to 4 weeks
• Zometa 4 mg IV every 12 weeks or every 3 to 4 weeks

For prostate cancer,  2017 clinical practice guidelines also recommended that bone-modifying agents be started at the time of diagnosis of bone metastases. Options include either:

• Xgeva/Prolia (denosumab) 120 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks
• Zometa 4 mg IV every 12 weeks or every 3 to 4 weeks

All other solid tumors with bone metastases may be treated with one of the following:

• Zometa 4 mg IV every 3 to 4 weeks
• Denosumab 120 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks

Before Beginning Treatment

Before beginning treatment with either denosumab or bisphosphonates, it's recommended that people have a thorough dental exam looking for evidence of gum disease and that any dental work that is required should be done prior to starting these drugs.

Bottom Line on Bone-Modifying Medications for Bone Metastases From Solid Tumors

Bone metastases are challenging for many people with metastatic cancer and can reduce quality of life and survival. Bone-modifying agents are a relatively new approach and are now recommended early on after a diagnosis of bone metastases for many cancers. 

Bisphosphonates such as Aredia and Zometa can reduce the risk of fractures, and subsequently a cause of pain and immobility. Denusomab is effective in reducing fractures as well and may be somewhat superior to bisphosphonates for breast and prostate cancers. Both classes of medications carry an uncommon risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw, and a careful dental exam looking for signs of gum disease is recommended before starting these drugs.

In addition to reducing fracture risk, these medications can help correct bone loss due to hormonal therapies used for breast and prostate cancers. Both IV bisphosphonates and denosumab appear to have significant anti-cancer activity, increasing the benefits for people who choose to use these drugs. In fact, in addition to people with metastatic breast cancer, Zometa is now recommended for early stage breast cancer as an adjuvant therapy to reduce the chance that breast cancer will spread to bones in the first place.

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement