In women with breast cancer, AI therapy can lead to accelerated decrease in bone mineral density, thereby increasing the risk of fracture.9 Ninety-five percent of the oncologists treating patients with breast cancer surveyed by Harris Interactive consider bone loss a serious issue for their non-metastatic patients on AI therapy.8 In a clinical trial, women with early stage breast cancer who received AI therapy had a 21 percent increased risk of fracture, directly resulting from bone loss, compared to women with non-metastatic breast cancer who did not receive AI therapy.10
In the survey, medical oncologists said the following consequences can result from a fracture:
• functional limitations
• physical limitations, immobility
• surgery
• time spent in nursing home or rehab facility
• time away from activities of daily living (social events, family, friends, etc.)
• detrimental to emotional health and well-being
• concern about interrupting treatment for primary cancer to address bone complications
