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Bone density test if period has not returned?

Page last modified on: August 28, 2008

Question from Tulip: Should you have a bone density test if you are 40 and your period has not returned post ACT chemotherapy?: Answers —Charles Loprinzi, M.D.: Bone density is recommended to be obtained around the time of menopause. If a woman at age 40 has not had menstrual periods for a year or more after finishing chemotherapy, then it seems reasonable to get a bone mineral density test around that time. There are not hard and fast guidelines around this, however.; Mindy Goldman, M.D.: Women reach peak bone density at around 30-35 and all women have a gradual decline in bone density after that. The major rate of loss, 2-3% per year, is in the immediate years after menopause. If she is going through menopause at an earlier age (10 years earlier than expected), it will be important to do things like weight-bearing exercise and taking calcium supplementation in order to maintain her bone density and hopefully prevent osteoporosis.

On Wednesday, August 20, 2008, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Managing Menopausal Symptoms. Charles Loprinzi, M.D. and Mindy Goldman, M.D. answered your questions about how you can manage menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, insomnia, and more.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Charles Loprinzi, M.D. is an emeritus chairman of the division of medical oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Along with hot flash management, his research focuses on ways to reduce pain as well as appetite changes caused by breast cancer treatment.

Mindy Goldman, M.D. is an OB/GYN physician specializing in the gynecology of breast cancer patients.