Bisphosphonates are a class of drug used to prevent and/or treat osteoporosis. It’s estimated that about 1.8 million American women have been prescribed bisphosphonates. They are known to cause serious esophagitis (inflammation or swelling of the esophagus) in some users. Reflux esophagitis is a known risk factor for cancer of the esophagus, leading many to wonder if esophagitis caused by bisphosphonates could lead to cancer as well.
Researchers in the United Kingdom analyzed data from the UK General Practice Research Database from January 1996 to December 2006. They compared instances of esophageal and gastric cancers in patients treated with oral bisphosphonates with a control group that had not taken the drugs. They discovered no difference in risk of cancer between patients prescribed bisphosphonates and those that had not taken them. It didn’t matter how long the patients had been on bisphosphonates, their risk was similar to patients’ that had never taken the drug. This doesn’t mean the drugs are completely safe or have no adverse side effects, but that cancer is not one risk you have to worry about. Your doctor can help you understand the risks and benefits of taking a bisphosphonate.