Washington (US): According to a recent large study by researchers at the American Cancer Society, adult cancer survivors, particularly those diagnosed within five years and/or have a history of chemotherapy, have an increased risk for bone fractures, specifically pelvic and vertebral fractures, compared to older adults without cancer (ACS).
Additionally, survivors who were physically active had a lower probability of breaking a bone, while survivors who smoked had a higher risk. The results were released today in JAMA Oncology, the journal of the American Medical Association.
"These findings are important as the number of cancer survivors living in the United States is projected to rise to 26.1 million by 2040. Research like this seeks ways for cancer survivors to have a better quality of life after their diagnosis," said Dr Erika Rees-Punia, senior principal scientist, of behavioural and epidemiology research at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the study. "Fractures of the pelvis and vertebrae are more than just broken bones - they are serious and costly."
