Breast Cancer Patients More Prone To Falling

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - There is an interesting report in The Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. According to a study out of the Oregon Health and Science University, breast cancer patients have a 15% higher rate of falling than women who do not have breast cancer.

This is important because fractures are a great concern for breast cancer survivors. Think about it. The combination of early menopause due to breast cancer treatment and common medications used to treat breast cancer can lead to weakening of the bones. The weakening of the bones combined with the fact that, in many cases, muscle tone is not as great after going through treatment can increase the chance of falling.

Doctors who treat breast cancer survivors are now being advised to talk about this potential problem with patients so that they can become aware of the risk, especially in the early stages after treatment.

Reported By Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio Medical Editor