STM Article Repository

Introduction: Almost 1 in 8 women will have breast cancer during their lifetime. Several risk factors were identified; however, 70% of females with breast cancer have no risk factors.Many risk factors are associated with sex steroid hormones. Some studies have been focusedon identification of the indices of cumulative exposures to estrogen during the patients’ life.One of these indicators is bone mineral density (BMD). Our aim was the comparison of BMDin young patients with and without breast cancer, and finding a relationship between breastcancer and bone density. Methods: In this case-control study, 120 people were enrolled; 40 patients with breast cancerand 80 normal healthy persons as control group. Measurement of BMD was performed in both groups and compared.Results: Both groups were matched in age, weight, age at menarche, age at first marriage andfirst pregnancy, number of pregnancies over 32 weeks and lactation period, and taking supplemental calcium and vitamin D. However, there was a significant difference between thetwo groups in terms of estrogen intake, family history of breast cancer, and history of breastmasses (P = 0.03, P = 0.03, P ≤ 0.01, respectively). A significant difference was foundbetween BMD, bone mineral content (BMC), and t-scores of lumbar spine of the two groups;they were higher in the control group (P = 0.08, P ≤ 0.01, P = 0.06, respectively). Conclusion: This study shows that BMD of young patients with breast cancer is not higherthan normal similar age females; thus, BMD is not directly a risk factor for breast cancer