Women who undergo breast cancer treatment are at increased risk of fracture, particularly hip fractures that typically occur in women over age 70, according to a new study published in Clinical Cancer Research.
According to U.S. researchers, six women who had survived breast cancer, were all being treated for hip fractures in their early 50s.
The women had been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, and their treatments had included lumpectomy, radiation therapy and chemotherapy for one to four years prior to breaking a hip. All of the women were perimenopausal at the time of the fracture.
Four of the women had cancer therapy that included medication to prevent their bodies from making estrogen. Previous research has linked lack of estrogen with bone loss in women.
"Although the majority of women with breast cancer can expect to be fully cured from the disease, the prevention of cancer treatment-induced bone loss is important to consider in cancer survival," said Dr Beatrice Edwards at Northwestern University in Chicago.
"More research needs to be done before treatment guidelines are changed, but greater awareness of the adverse effects of certain breast cancer drugs is needed," she added.