Cancer Drug Linked To Rotting Jaws

Published by The Cancer Blog

Out of New Zealand comes reporting that four New Zealanders have suffered rotting jawbones after taking a bisphosphates medication prescribed to help prevent bone loss for patients suffering from osteoporosis and bone cancers. At least 15 Americans are suing Merck after developing breakdown of bone in the jaw due to taking Fosamax prescribed to strengthen bone and prevent bone loss. 

According to the report, while the New Zealand patients were not taking the brand name drug, Fosamax, they were taking a similar version of the same drug. In total, about 2500 cases of rotting jaws have been reported. Merck is the same company who was forced to take Vioxx, an arthritis drug, off the market after a study showed it doubled the risk of heart attacks or strokes if patients took it for longer than 18 months. Perhaps we need to take a closer look into the medicine cabinet -- and start asking more questions -- before we rush to get a glass of water and down the newest approved pill. A new cancer drug is about to hit the market. Let's take a look.

In a Food Consumer report, Vioxx more dangerous than thought, there is a controversial suggestion made that Merck misinterpreted the initial data on Vioxx to make it look like there was less danger to the drug than study results actually indicated; that the drug might raise the risk of heart attack and stroke within just a few months of use and not after 18 months as the company claimed; and that the risk apparently remains the same at least one year after people stop using Vioxx -- meaning the damage caused by the medication can be permanent. Not good news for the 20 million Americans prescribed  Vioxx before it was taken off the market. 

And isn't Merck one of the makers of the new cervical cancer vaccine coming out? I am not suggesting that Merck is shady and should not be trusted, or singled out as the only pharmaceutical drug company that has manufactured drugs later to be found dangerous. But I am using this company, for this discussion, and these unfortunate instances of horrible and sometimes fatal outcomes to taking a drug to point out that sometimes our rush to find the cure in a pill and the media's rush to sing the praises of the miracles of the next new pill needs to be viewed with caution. A simple little pill, or vaccine, or intravenous drip has the power to do as much bad as it can good. I wonder if we do not get in too big of a hurry that we forget to look to closely or ask enough questions or demand more proof of safety.