Joint and Bone Pain From Breast Cancer Treatment

It can be difficult for people to take breast cancer medicines that cause bone and joints to feel stiff and sore. But understanding options for finding relief can help you stick with your treatment plan and carry on with your daily routine. 

Did you know that exercise can help with many breast cancer treatment side effects? Our video series, Exercises to Relieve Side Effects, is designed especially for people living with breast cancer — no matter your fitness or energy level.

Watch the Exercises to Help With Joint and Bone Pain video.

Bone and joint pain is a common side effect of aromatase inhibitors — a hormonal therapy used to treat hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. About 50% of people prescribed aromatase inhibitors report new or worsening joint pain during their first year of taking the medicine. About 30% stop taking the medicine after one year.

Aromatase inhibitors lower the amount of estrogen in the body. Researchers aren’t exactly sure why these medicines cause bone and joint pain, but many experts believe that in the absence of estrogen, the bones and cartilage start to degrade and the joints aren't as well lubricated, which causes the pain.

Chemotherapy and targeted therapies may also cause bone and joint pains.

Other medicines used to ease treatment side effects also may cause bone and joint pain, including:

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  bisphosphonates, medicines used to treat osteoporosis and to reduce bone complications caused by advanced-stage breast cancers that have spread to the bone; also used to help reduce the risk of early-stage breast cancer coming back (recurring)

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  Xgeva (chemical name: denosumab), a medicine used to reduce bone complications and bone pain caused by advanced-stage breast cancer that has spread to the bones; although it’s counterintuitive, Xgeva may cause bone pain in some people

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  Neulasta (chemical name: pegfilgrastim), Neupogen (chemical name: filgrastim), and Zarxio (chemical name: filgrastim-sndz), medicines used to reduce the risk of infection during chemotherapy

If you’re experiencing joint or bone pain, talk to your doctor right away. If the pain is because of a breast cancer treatment, you may be able to switch to a different medicine. There are a number of ways to ease bone and joint pain caused by breast cancer treatments, including exercise, a number of complementary therapies, pain medicines, and hot and cold packs.

Although it may seem counterintuitive, research shows that moderate-intensity exercise along with strength training can help ease bone and joint pain.

To help people with bone and joint pain, Breastcancer.org partnered with Sami Mansfield, a certified cancer trainer and founder of Cancer Wellness for Life, to develop a series of exercise videos tailored to help ease specific side effects, including joint pain.

The video below features exercises designed to reduce joint pain and stiffness. Sami shows several modifications for each exercise; it’s important to do the exercises at the speed, range of motion, and pace that are right for you. 

Along with exercise, other techniques that that can lessen joint pain include:

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  acupuncture

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  chiropractic therapy

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  hypnosis

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  massage

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  music therapy

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  Reiki

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  Shiatsu

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  yoga

Your doctor also may recommend over-the-counter medicines called non-narcotic analgesics to treat bone and joint pain. These medicines include ibuprofen and naproxen. 

Your doctor might also recommend a topical pain reliever that can be applied directly to the area. These medicines come as creams, gels, sprays, or patches.

Certain antidepressant medicines, including Cymbalta (chemical name: duloxetine) have been shown to ease joint pain and stiffness caused by aromatase inhibitors.