Professor Robert Coleman speaks about the side effects experienced by patients with cancer of the bone and discusses how denosumab, zoledronic acid or other bisphosphonates can reduce these. A recent study comparing zoledronic acid with clodronate as treatment for myeloma has shown that significant survival advantages in the zoledronic acid group, Prof Coleman explains the significance of these results and discusses what further research he would like to see in this area.This interview is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from AMGEN.