Prostate Cancer Treatment Increases Risk of Fractures
Written By: Duke and The Doctor
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Published - Aug 31, 2010
A new study suggests that prostate cancer patients who undergo radiation therapy may be at increased risk of breaking their hips.
Prostate cancer treatment includes androgen-suppressant therapy. Doctors already know that androgen-suppressant therapy, otherwise known as hormone therapy for men with prostate cancer, carries a risk of osteoporosis and fracture. To add insult to injury now, three-dimensional external-beam radiation therapy also appears to increase the risk of osteoporosis and hip fracture. Researchers found that radiation treatment increases the risk of hip fracture by 58%. Treating and attempting to cure prostate cancer with hormone therapy and radiation are typically used. However, it should be noted that men clearly should take a good calcium supplement to protect their bones against one of the many negative consequences of these therapies.