Posted Thursday, December 8, 2011 --- 5:30 p.m.
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Researchers got a nice surprise from a drug they hoped would keep women's bones strong during cancer treatment and prevent relapses later. A study finds that the drug Zometa improved survival as much as many chemotherapy medicines do.
Doctors say that 4 to 5 more women out of every 100 would survive if given Zometa.
The results only apply to young women with early breast cancer who were pushed into menopause by hormone treatments for their tumors.
Other research shows that Zometa does not provide the same benefit for women after menopause.
Results were discussed at a cancer conference in San Antonio this week.
Copyright 2011. The Associated Press.
