Site Search:

Osteopenia, Osteoporosis

Osteopenia is the loss of mineral mass from bones. Osteoporosis is essentially the same thing, only more severe. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can cause the bone mineral density to lower. You should begin baseline bone density screening at age 18 to keep accurate measurements that can be compared year to year to see if osteopenia is occurring. To offset the risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis, survivors should:

• Participate regularly in weight-bearing exercise (Check with your doctor to see if your condition allows)
• Eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamins