New Delhi.  Our entire body rests on the framework of bones. If there is any problem in it, then sitting, getting up, walking, etc. can become difficult. Bones not only provide mobility to the body, but they also play an important role in protecting many organs.

The hormones in our body are also responsible for many functions of bones. If you want to keep your bones strong even as you grow older, it is very important to understand the connection between hormones and bones, especially for women, as they go through many hormonal changes throughout their lives, so it is very important for them to know how the hormones present inside the body can affect our bone health.

The Hormones and Bone Connection

In women, mainly estrogen hormone plays an important role in maintaining bone density. When any of our bones breaks due to any reason, new bone is formed in place of the old bone due to estrogen, but during menopause the level of estrogen decreases in women, which can increase the risk of osteoporosis and bone cancer.

Types of bone cancer in women

There are mainly two types of bone cancer in women. The first is primary bone cancer, which directly affects a bone such as osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma and Uwing sarcoma.

Second: Secondary bone cancers. These occur when cancer cells from other parts of the body spread to the bones.

How does the risk of bone cancer increase?

Hormonal changes

Decreasing estrogen levels during menopause weakens bones and may increase the risk of cancer.

family history

If any family member has had this type of disease before, the risk may also increase.

Pre-cancer treatment

If any treatment through radiation was done in childhood, then the chances of this happening increase.

Prevention and protection

Maintaining hormonal balance in the body is very important to strengthen bones and reduce the risk of bone cancer. Women can keep their bones healthy in many ways and avoid this big risk.

1. Regular checkups

If someone in your family has had cancer before, keep getting yourself tested from time to time.

2. Healthy Lifestyle

Calcium and Vitamin D are very important for bones , so take a healthy and balanced diet. 

3. Physical activity

To keep your bones healthy, do some exercise every day, even for a short while. Exercising also helps in getting rid of problems related to hormones.

4. Hormone replacement therapy

In some cases, doctors also suggest this therapy to overcome hormonal imbalance.

By taking care of these things, bones can be kept healthy to a great extent.

(Based on conversation with Dr. Bhavana Bansal, Senior Consultant & HOD, Histopathology, OnQuest Laboratories)