by Barbara Curtis
Eugene Glavin, MD
When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, bone health likely isn’t the first thing that comes to mind as she begins her journey through treatment. However, there is a link between breast cancer survivors and an increased risk of bone loss.
Osteoporosis, meaning “porous bones,” is a condition that causes bones to lose density and become thinner over time, making them weaker and susceptible to fractures and breaks. Osteoporosis can affect anyone, but it is most common in older women. During menopause, women will experience a decrease in estrogen – a hormone that helps protect bone density.
Breast cancer patients may have hormone therapy, chemotherapy or surgery as part of their care plan. Certain treatments, such as anti-estrogen therapies, may cause reduced ovarian function, resulting in a drop in estrogen levels. While there is no specific cause for cancer, a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer increases as she gets older – at a similar time when women are already at a higher risk for osteoporosis. Fortunately, bone loss can be detected early through a simple scan.
To detect osteoporosis accurately, physicians use an enhanced form of x-ray technology called Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA). This procedure is a quick and painless way to determine bone loss and establish a standard for measuring bone mineral density.
“A DEXA scan is a bone density test that measures a woman’s risk of fracture. The scan uses data from healthy, young women and of women of similar age to ascertain that risk,” says Eugene Glavin, MD, Director of Women’s Imaging Services at Chester County Hospital. “If we see that the patient is at an increased risk of fracture, then treatment can be instituted to help decrease bone loss.”
If anti-estrogen therapies are part of a patient’s treatment plan, their oncologist may recommend a baseline DEXA scan before treatment as a comparison. Regular scans may also be scheduled to measure bone strength during and after treatment, well into survivorship.
“Maintaining a healthy lifestyle also has a positive impact on bone health,” added Dr. Glavin. He recommends staying fit by incorporating weight-bearing exercises like brisk walking, which causes the body to work against gravity, increasing bone strength; reducing alcohol consumption; eating a healthful diet that is rich in calcium and vitamin D; and maintaining a healthy weight.
Chester County Hospital offers convenient appointments for DEXA scans at its four satellite locations in West Chester, Exton, Kennett Square and West Grove. A prescription from your health care provider is required. For more information, call 610.431.5131.