Thousands of cancer patients whose disease has spread to the
bone are to benefit from a new drug which is to be made
available on the NHS. Denosumab (Xgeva) helps prevent bone
complications in people whose cancer has spread from its
original site. These complications include bone fractures,
spinal compression - when the spinal cord is compressed by the
bone - and bone complications requiring radiotherapy or surgery.
Symptoms include pain as well as weakening and eventual
destruction of the bone. The National Institute for Health and
Clinical Excellence (Nice) has published its final draft
guidance which recommends the drug for certain groups of cancer
patients whose disease has spread, most commonly to the spine,
pelvis, hip, upper leg bones and skull. The conditions include
bone tumours from breast cancer and other solid tumours not
relating to the breast or prostate, such as lung or kidney
cancer. Professor Carole Longson, director of the Centre for
Health Technology Evaluation at Nice, said: "Bone metastas