Will chemotherapy hurt my bones?

Will chemotherapy hurt my bones?

“I have osteoporosis, and my bones area weak. I’ve heard chemotherapy hurts your bone. I don’t want to make my bones weaker.”

I’ve had this conversation a few times.

Chemotherapy does not cause or contribute to osteoporosis. It flows through the bone marrow, which is present in the hollow of the bones, and is the area where fresh blood cells are continuously produced. It does knock down those cells, but they recover in a short while. In very rare situations, they do not recover well, and 10-20 years later, that may cause other bone marrow disorders.

Osteoporosis refers to the strength of the structure of the bone, the cortex, the scaffolding. Chemotherapy does not affect that. Some kinds of hormone blocking therapy that is used for breast or prostate cancer, which depletes the cancer cells of estrogen or testosterone does contribute to osteoporosis. This is monitored by doing bone density studies, and can be counteracted with Vitamin D, Calcium and exercise.

All these decisions are balanced between risk and benefit, and if the treatment is life saving, it is possible to protect your bones. Most such regimens are time limited, and bones and bone marrow recover.