University of Virginia Health System

Breast Cancer Risk Linked to Bone Density

Calculating a woman's bone mineral density appears to shed light on her risk for breast cancer, says a report in the journal Cancer.

The Gail model incorporates information on family history, age and other factors to estimate a woman's risk of breast cancer for the next five years and her lifetime.

The model does not include data on bone mineral density, which is a risk factor for breast cancer.

The two measurements might be used in tandem to better predict breast cancer risk, the researchers say.

Bone Health Gives Heads Up

The findings follow closely on the heels of other research linking different aspects of bone health with breast cancer risk.

One study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting found that Zometa® (zoledronic acid), a medication used to treat osteoporosis, lowered the risk of breast cancer recurrence in premenopausal women.

And another study released this spring found that women with breast cancer who have a vitamin D deficiency at the time of their diagnosis were more likely to have a recurrence or to die from their disease. Vitamin D is also critical to bone health.

The new study incorporates Gail scores and hip bone mineral density information on almost 10,000 postmenopausal women participating in the Women's Health Initiative.

After an average of almost nine years of follow-up, women with a high Gail score were, overall, 35 percent more likely to develop breast cancer. And for each unit of increase in total hip bone mineral density, a woman's risk rose 25 percent.

There was a particularly high increase in risk for women with the highest bone mineral density and Gail scores.

The University of Virginia Health System's High Risk Care clinic, which specializes in caring for women who may be at higher risk for breast and ovarian cancer, doesn't use bone mineral density levels to help determine a woman's risk for breast cancer, says David Brenin, M.D., FACS, Co-Director of the UVA Breast Center.

"However, based on the results from the well-conducted, prospective study presented in this paper, we are currently considering adding bone density to our patient risk profiling," Brenin says.

Estrogen, Weight, and Bone - More to Learn

Women with high bone density often are overweight or obese, a condition which elevates their risk of breast cancer and which may well be the common denominator, says Dr. Jay Brooks of Ochsner Health System.

"This is more information that shows a link in my opinion, between increasing weight, obesity and the development of breast cancer," he adds.

But the picture for women remains a complicated one, another expert says.

"Even with these additional findings, however, it's still not clear what the precise relationships are between estrogen, bone density,and breast cancer," says Dr. Mary Daly of the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.

To read a patient story, get additional information on breast cancer treatment or learn about UVA's Breast Care Program, visit www.uvahealth.com. 

UVA also offers a free, confidential risk assesment through the region's only High Risk Care program to determine if you have a higher-than-normal personal risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer. This free service is particularly encouraged for women with a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer. To arrange the free screening, call 434-982-0808.

Women can learn more about their unique risks for heart disease - and how to better manage those risks - through Live Red, a UVA heart-health initiative. You'll learn how heart attack symptoms can be different for women than for men, and you can take an online risk assessment to learn your personal heart disease risk factors.

There, you can sign up for Club Red, our free heart-healthy club for women. Benefits include tips from UVA healthcare providers and a gift package to help you live red in style.

Always consult your physician for more information.