Chemotherapy, hormone therapy and tamoxifen induce bone loss

Women receiving tamoxifen for prevention or treatment of breast cancer will experience accelerated bone loss. This is because the inhibition of estrogen entry into cells results in loss of calcium from bones. Stronger estrogen-blockers called aromatase inhibitors pose an even greater risk, increasing the risk of a bone fracture by another 35-50% compared to tamoxifen. Males with prostate cancer face similar problems. Hormone treatment (androgen deprivation- Lupron) reduces bone mass by 4-5% per year. –Osteoporosis International August 10, 2007 online.