Dear All
This week for menopause In Focus the topic is bone health. The fall in oestrogen levels caused by having your ovaries removed, and some subsequent ovarian cancer treatments can increase your risk of osteoporosis (bone thinning).
There is some good general information on things you can do to help protect your bones on the NHS Choices website here: nhs.uk/Livewell/healthy-bon...
Macmillan Cancer Care has a lot of information on bone health here: macmillan.org.uk/informatio...
If you're worried about your bone health you can ask your doctor for a DEXA scan, which measures bone density: nhs.uk/conditions/dexa-scan/ These are low level x-rays, you lay on a table for the scan and they are quicker and less claustrophic than a CT or MRI scan. The results are calculated into a score which can help guide treatment, if needed.
There are various treatments available to help protect your bones. Supplements such as calcium and vitamin D can help, but do check with your medical team regarding how much to take.
As we've mentioned before, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a complex issue in ovarian cancer, so while this can help prevent bone thinning you would need to discuss it with your oncologist for clinical advice specific to you.
Prescription medicines include bisphosphonates, which you may have heard of as they are used quite widely as part of treatment for many cancers. They slow down the rate of bone thinning by interfering with cells that break down bones. They can be taken orally or via a drip.
While complementary therapies may help with other symptoms of menopause, there is less evidence for their effectiveness regarding bone health (although t'ai chi, discussed in the Energetic Therapies In Focus post, is a weight-bearing exercise and as such is shown to have benefit). The National Osteoporosis Society has more information on their website here: nos.org.uk/about-osteoporos...
The National Osteoporosis Society also has a helpline, 0808 800 0035 9-4.30pm Monday-Thursday, 9-4pm on Fridays.
I hope this information is helpful. Wishing you all an enjoyable weekend!
Best wishes
Anna
Ovacome Support Service Manager
Vitamin D deficiency in cancer patients
