To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Hip BMD Helps Predict Breast Cancer Risk in Postmenopausal Women URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/226856.htm Doctor's Guide July 28, 2008
HOBOKEN, NJ -- July 28, 2008 -- Measuring a woman's bone mineral density (BMD) can provide additional information that may help more accurately determine her risk of developing breast cancer, according to a study which will appear in the September 1 issue of CANCER. The results suggest that incorporating BMD tests with current risk assessments might significantly improve physicians' ability to predict breast cancer risk in older, postmenopausal women. Zhao Chen, MD, University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Tucson, Arizona, and colleagues investigated the relationships between BMD, traditional breast cancer risk assessment tool results, and breast cancer incidence among the same group of postmenopausal women. The study included approximately 10,000 postmenopausal women (mean age, 63 years) taking part in the Women's Health Initiative study in the United States. Researchers assessed the women's initial BMD level and their score on the Gail risk model. The women were then followed for an average of approximately 8 years, noting which women developed breast cancer. The study found a 25% increase in the risk of developing breast cancer with each unit increase in total hip BMD t-score. In addition, women with a high Gail score had a 35% increased risk of developing breast cancer compared with women with a lower Gail score. While the 2 scores were independent of each other, women who had the highest scores on both assessments had a much higher risk in breast cancer. "Future studies should investigate whether incorporating bone mineral density and Gail score with other risk factors, such as breast density, can further improve the identification of women at high risk for developing breast cancer," the authors wrote. This study also suggests that BMD is a potential alternative for predicting breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women if Gail score is not available. SOURCE: Wiley-Blackwell --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.