HOW BONE DENSITOMETRY CAN HELP ANGELINA JOLIE COPE WITH THE AFTERMATH OF HER LATEST SURGERY TO PREVENT CANCER, AND WHY THE TEST WILL BE CRUCIAL FOR HER HEALTH

Angelina Jolie has made Women's Health history once again. Two years after revealing her drastic double mastectomy, she announced in The New York Times yesterday that she has since undergone a prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy -- the removal of her ovaries and fallopian tubes. Jolie, a mother, human rights activist, director and actress, carries the BRCA 1 mutation, which is associated with an estimated 87% increased risk for breast cancer and a 59% risk for ovarian cancer. Jolie lost her mother, grandmother, and aunt to cancer.

Jolie knew that this surgery, while less traumatic than double mastectomy, will have immediate and severe physical and emotional effects -- she will enter an early, forced menopause. In addition to hormonal and emotional changes, Jolie will face an increased risk for osteoporosis. According to a 2007 study by JC Gallagher published in the journal Menopause, "The earlier in life that menopause occurs, the lower the bone density will be later in life. This is associated with a higher fracture rate, and several studies show a relationship between early menopause, oophorectomy, and an increase in osteoporotic fractures." While the National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends bone density testing for women age 65 or older, and men age 70 and older, with no risk factors, Jolie's newly acquired risk factor should lead her to consider starting testing now.

Regular, early bone density testing will help Jolie and her doctors with these crucial points:

1. Find out if she has weak bones or osteoporosis before she breaks a bone

2. Predict her chance of breaking a bone in the future

3. See if the density of the bone is improving, getting worse or staying the same

4. Prescribe osteoporosis medicine if necessary, before a fracture occurs, and

5. Track how well that medicine is working 

The NOF recommends a test of the hip and spine, using a specialized X-ray device called a DEXA Bone Densitometer. Most Women's Health clinics and doctor's offices now conveniently DEXA Bone Densitometers on their premises. According to an article on bonedensitometers.com, "DEXA scans are non-invasive and comfortable for the patient, with very low radiation. The patient lies on the scanner bed while a small beam of radiation passes through the region of interest. Patient bone density is measured automatically. The entire examination for the spine and the femur requires about 10 minutes."http://www.bonedensitometers.com/AboutBone/AboutBone.html (link is external)

Regular preventative testing will undoubtedly be a part of Jolie's future health plan. If public response to her dramatic surgeries is any indication, millions of women will stop to consider if they, too, might be at risk for low osteoporosis and crippling fractures. They should first consult their gynecologist or family doctor, who can order the scans and recommend a facility that has DEXA bone densitometers in its lineup of diagnostic imaging equipment.

Women's Health providers and radiology clinics can easily and affordably offer bone density tests to their patients -- by purchasing preowned diagnostic imaging equipment. Click the button below for a free consultation to find out about refurbished bone densitometers, if an affordable refurbished bone densitometer is a viable option for your practice.