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