Why are bone-protecting injections given during chemotherapy?
Dec 12, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Huang Yuhong
Introduction
Chemotherapy-related bone-protecting injections are primarily used to prevent skeletal-related events, protect bone density, relieve bone pain, reduce fracture risk, and minimize complications from bone metastasis. If persistent bone pain or limited limb mobility occurs, seek medical attention promptly. Chemotherapy drugs may impair osteoblast function, leading to bone metabolic disorders; bone-protecting injections can inhibit osteoclast activity.
During chemotherapy, bone-protecting injections are primarily used to prevent bone-related events, protect bone density, relieve bone pain, reduce fracture risk, and minimize complications associated with bone metastasis. If you experience persistent bone pain or limited limb mobility, please seek medical attention promptly.
1. Prevention of bone-related events: Chemotherapy drugs may impair osteoblast function, leading to skeletal metabolic disorders. Bone-protecting injections can inhibit osteoclast activity, reduce bone resorption, and thereby prevent serious bone-related events such as pathological fractures and spinal cord compression.
2. Protection of bone density: Chemotherapy can disrupt calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body, damaging normal bone structure. Long-term chemotherapy increases the risk of osteoporosis. Bone-protecting injections help regulate skeletal metabolic balance, slow down bone loss, maintain stable bone density, and protect overall bone health.
3. Relief of bone pain: Some patients undergoing chemotherapy may develop bone pain, especially those with bone metastases. Bone-protecting injections can alleviate skeletal pain by inhibiting bone destruction and reducing inflammatory responses, thereby improving quality of life.
4. Reduction of fracture risk: Chemotherapy-induced osteoporosis increases bone fragility, making fractures more likely even during daily activities or under minor trauma. Bone-protecting injections enhance bone strength and lower the probability of fractures, preventing disruptions to the treatment process.
5. Reduction of complications from bone metastasis: For patients with tumor-related bone metastases, combining chemotherapy with bone-protecting injections helps control the progression of bone lesions and reduces complications such as hypercalcemia and anemia caused by bone dissolution, potentially extending survival. During treatment, it is essential to follow medical advice for regular administration of bone-protecting injections, ensure adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D, avoid strenuous exercise, choose gentle forms of physical activity, maintain a balanced diet, quit smoking, limit alcohol consumption, and undergo regular bone density testing to monitor skeletal health.
