New From PubMed:

Researchers in the cancer epidemiology and genetics division of the National Institutes of Health in Rockville, MD analyzed the risk of cancer in patients with osteoporosis. The researchers used study data from 23,935 adults hospitalized due to osteoporosis in Denmark. They also used follow-up data on these patients’ incidence rates of cancer, and assessed the risk of cancer in both early onset and late onset osteoporosis patients. Due to low hormone levels in osteoporosis patients, cancer risk was presumed to be decreased. However, certain risk factors for osteoporosis, such as alcohol consumption and smoking, may increase cancer risk. These risk factors are more likely to be present in early onset osteoporosis patients. After analyzing the data, the researchers concluded that patients diagnosed with osteoporosis before age 70 are at an increased risk for developing cancer, especially cancer of the buccal cavity, esophagus, liver, pancreas, and lungs. Conversely, patients diagnosed with osteoporosis at age 70 or older are at decreased risk for cancer. Specifically, women were at decreased risk from cancer of the breast, brain, colon, rectum, and endometrium; men were at decreased risk from prostate cancer.

Read the full abstract on PubMed