Review of bone health in women receiving endocrine therapy because of breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies of women. However, recent advances in early detection screenings and treatment options have reduced mortality, even in the face of growing incidence. Endocrine therapies are commonly used as treatment for patients with hormone-receptor positive breast carcinoma, but are also known to induce bone loss and increase the risk of fractures. Osteoporotic fractures have emerged as an important clinical problem with the improving survival of women with breast cancer. In the present review, we would like to emphasize the importance of the topic by summarizing the published data of the past three decades. Timely diagnostic steps are essential for the detection of reduced bone mineral content and, if necessary, the introduction of treatment for fracture prevention.