Doctors yesterday called for better treatment of post-menopausal women with osteoporosis who are scared away from conventional health care because of the increased risk of developing breast cancer.
The Hong Kong Osteoporosis Foundation estimates only three per cent of the 300,000 post-menopausal women with osteoporosis are receiving medical treatment.
In serious cases, osteoporosis accelerates bone loss and fractures due to the loss of the female hormone estrogen after menopause.
'Patients often refuse treatment once they are diagnosed with osteoporosis, as they know receiving hormonal replacement therapy could have a side effect, which is breast cancer,' said Professor Clement Chan Leung-kwok of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the National University of Singapore, attending a medical promotion event in Hong Kong yesterday.
Patients are restricted to five years of hormonal replacement therapy as they are at greater risk of developing breast cancer if the treatment continues.
Breast cancer was the third most common cause of cancer deaths among Hong Kong women from 1995 to 1999. It claimed 395 lives in 1999.
Professor Chan said patients would rather have osteoporosis and hope they did not suffer bone fractures than take the therapy.
