Breast Cancer Medications and Exercise, What you need to know.
As I was looking for a good article related to osteoporosis to share with you this week, I came across this:
One of the more common scenarios I encounter is women with osteoporosis or osteopenia who have gone through treatment for breast cancer. Breast cancer medications tend to be not so great for bone health. While we already know this, what we can do about it is still up in the air.
This review article gives us a good place to start with some specific recommendations.
Your long-term bone health can improve while undergoing treatment with aromatase inhibitors.
What is an aromatase inhibitor? These medications are prescribed to women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. They block the production of aromatase, which is needed to produce estrogen outside of the ovaries.
Some of the medications include:
Arimidex,
Aromasin
Femara
(Tamoxifen is not an aromatase inhibitor; it is a selective estrogen receptor modulator or SERM).
Estrogen is the hormone that declines during the menopause transition. At the cellular level, the lack of estrogen starts a cycle of bone loss as osteoclast cells and osteoblast cells get out of whack. The osteoclasts begin to break down more rapidly than it can be made by the osteoblasts. Taking a medication that blocks the small amount of estrogen still being produced (the aromatase inhibitors) means your bone is even more vulnerable to decline.
Luckily, you can do something about this. Without taking another medication.
Cerulli et al, put together this narrative review. A narrative review means the research was done by others; it was then gathered, evaluated and finally compiled to come up with recommendations based on the research papers considered high quality. The authors of this narrative review found 14 studies that met the criteria of peer-reviewed research from 2003-2023.
Here is exactly what the authors wrote in their discussion:
"Physical exercise is effective in the prevention of secondary osteoporosis in BC patients by acting on three different levels:
in preventing BMD loss,
modulating biomarkers of bone metabolism,
and in assisting the effects of pharmacological supplementation."
Here are the recommendations based on the review of evidence:
Resistance Training:
Perform resistance training 2 to 3 times per week.
Exercise sessions should last between 45 to 60 minutes.
Aim for a workload of 60-80% of your one-repetition maximum (1RM).
Do 6 to 8 repetitions of each exercise, and work toward 2 or 3 sets.
Beginners can do bodyweight exercises, aiming for 10 repetitions per set, working up to as many as 10 sets.
Exercise Duration and Frequency:
Aim for a consistent exercise routine lasting 12 to 24 months.
Key Takeaways:
Exercise is not to be avoided.
Heavier loads build bone.
Strong muscles help prevent falls.
I hope this is helpful. I have developed my Strong Women, Strong Bones program to help you have fun while doing the exercise you need to stay strong, lift grandkids, enjoy your garden, and care for your pets.
I also have many exercises for you to try on my YouTube channel, be sure to subscribe and get notified when I release more videos.
As always, my references are listed below. I have had breast cancer twice. I am right here with you, following the research to make sure we all know how to stay as strong and healthy as we can.
Retire active,
Andrea
References:
BreastCancer.Org. https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal-therapy/aromatase-inhibitors. Accessed 9/11/24.
Cerulli C, Moretti E, Grazioli E, Emerenziani GP, Murri A, Tranchita E, Minganti C, Di Cagno A, Parisi A. Protective role of exercise on breast cancer-related osteoporosis in women undergoing aromatase inhibitors: A narrative review. Bone Rep. 2024 Mar 25;21:101756. doi: 10.1016/j.bonr.2024.101756. PMID: 38577250; PMCID: PMC10990716.
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