Breast Cancer risk may be associated with higher bone mineral density levels, a new study shows
A woman’s risk of developing breast cancer may be determined by calculating her bone mineral density (BMD).
According to a recent study, the chances of developing breast cancer is higher in women with high bone mineral density levels, regardless of how her risk fares in the frequently used Gail model.
The research team said that the two dimensions may be utilized together to better estimate the risk of developing breast cancer.
The results of the study are quite reflective of other investigations associating various aspects of bone status with the risk of breast cancer. At the yearly conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in May a study presented that Zometa (zoledronic acid), a medication for osteoporosis, decreased recurrence of breast cancer in pre-menopausal women.
Another study that came out this spring discovered that breast cancer women who suffered from vitamin D deficiency when they were diagnosed had a higher tendency of having a recurrence or dying from their disease. Vitamin D is also an essential factor of bone status.
The Gail model integrates pertinent data such as family background, age, and other factors to predict a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer over five years and over her entire life. However, the model does not incorporate findings on bone mineral density, which has been considered a risk factor for breast cancer.
Spearheaded by researchers at the University of Arizona, Tucson, this investigation integrated Gail scores and hip BMD levels on almost 10,000 postmenopausal women who joined in the Women’s Health Initiative.
The women were followed-up on an average of almost nine years, and it was found that women with high Gail scores were, generally, 35 percent more at risk of developing breast cancer. In addition, a woman’s risk increased by 25 percent for each unit of elevation in her total hip BMD.
The risk increase was specifically greater for women yielding the highest BMD and Gail scores.
According to Dr. Jay Brooks, chairman of haematology/oncology at Ochsner Health System in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, women with high BMD are mostly suffering from Obesity, a condition which increases their chances of developing breast cancer and which may be serve as the common denominator.
He said that in his opinion, this provides more information showing a connection between weight gain, obesity, and breast cancer development.
Another specialist however said that the picture for women stays complicated. Dr. Mary Daly, director of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia said that despite these supplemental findings, “it's still not clear what the precise relationships are between estrogen, bone density and breast cancer.”
