Last Friday I had my 36th 4-weekly Zometa infusion, at 2.8 years after being diagnosed with (bone-)metastatic PCa. My oncologist asked me if I should not reduce the frequency to once per 8 or 12 weeks. Yes, she excepts that I do my own research and have my own ideas, and that we do not always agree.
I found that, recently, a committee of experts decided against setting a hard deadline, at least for the first 5 years, because there is no firm evidence that it is causing harm. Maybe at longer term ? . And there is a chance of 1.5% of getting damage of the jaw, which appears more prevalent after 4 years of use. I will continue with Zometa though.
advancedprostatecancer.net/?p=2796Here we get our Zometa infusion very conveniently delivered at home by a trained nurse. I asked her if she had Zometa clients for more than 3 years. She hesitated, and then said: "I am sorry to say, but there are not many that live that long". But she had one for 4 and one for 5 years.
So what about
you, how long are you going to take it ?
The most important question is, however, does Zometa do any good ? I have no idea. It is supposed to reduce 'skeletal events', which happen to elderly people more often anyway. Possible reduction of bone pain is not (yet) relevant to me. I did not have it before DX (with G4+3 and PSA 575), and I don't have it now (PSA 1.3), although I had very extensive bone metastases (almost everywhere). I never needed any pain killers, but I think that, especially in the week before the next Zometa infusion, I have sometimes felt a little bit painful place on a rib or other bone, which then always disappeared after a few hours or so.
Do you think Zometa is doing you good ?