There is an important new study on an issue important to many prostate cancer patients: the relationship of oral and intravenous bisphosphonate drugs and an infrequent but serious side effect known as osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). Common bisphosphonate drugs and the usual method of administration are Fosamax (oral), Boniva (oral), Actonel (oral), Aredia (IV), and Zometa (IV).

While many of us prostate cancer patients are surprised to learn that we have significantly decreased bone density compared to other men our age , treatment with drugs that block testosterone (such as Lupron, Zoladex, Viadur, Trelstar, Eligard) often makes the problem substantially worse as testosterone is important in men for preserving bone density. (It takes a Bone Mineral Density (BMD) scan to diagnose loss of bone density - osteopenia (me) - a lesser degree of loss, or osteopenia. The BMD scan is not the same thing as the bone scan used to detect the spread of cancer.) Researchers believe the connection between the lower bone density and prostate cancer is a shortage of vitamin D that affects both.