Calcium With or Without Estrogen and/or Risedronate in Preventing Osteoporosis in Patients With Prostate Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

History of prostate cancer

No evidence of metastatic bony disease* NOTE: *Elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) allowed

Meets one of the following criteria:

Currently on treatment with androgen-ablation therapy in the adjuvant setting
Rising PSA without other evidence of recurrent disease with planned treatment for at least 6 months

No known osteoporosis or prior osteoporotic fracture

Osteoporosis defined as bone density at the hip or spine of more than 2.5 standard deviations below the mean for young men

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

18 and over

Performance status

Not specified

Life expectancy

Not specified

Hematopoietic

Not specified

Hepatic

SGOT or SGPT no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
Alkaline phosphatase normal OR no greater than 1.5 times ULN with a normal bone scan

Renal

Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
No prior symptomatic hypercalcemia or hypocalcemia

Cardiovascular

No active heart disease
No congestive heart failure under active treatment
No myocardial infarction within the past 5 years

No coronary artery disease (CAD) with recent myocardial infarction

Patients with a remote history of CAD who are only on medical treatment (e.g., antilipid agents) are allowed
No prior thrombosis (deep vein thrombosis, stroke, or pulmonary embolism) or other known hypercoagulable state other than cancer

Other

Fertile patients must use effective contraception
Triglycerides no greater than 250 mg/dL (treatment allowed)
Able to complete questionnaire(s) by self or with assistance
Able to swallow pills
No prior hyperlipidemia (e.g., prior familial hyperlipidemia or fasting triglyceride greater than 250 mg/dL within the past 6 months)
No sarcoidosis
No parathyroid dysfunction
No intolerance to bisphosphonates

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

Not specified

Chemotherapy

No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

See Disease Characteristics
No concurrent systemic steroids

Radiotherapy

No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

More than 3 months since prior and no concurrent dental extraction, root canal, or dental implantation

Other

No prior bisphosphonates
More than 5 years since prior percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty