How important is it to obtain a baseline bone scan to determine the likelihood of osteoporosis? I am 46 years old and was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 1995. I was treated via lumpectomy, which was my biopsy, and received radiation therapy only. My periods are just starting to become irregular (six weeks or more between periods rather than four weeks).

--Jaclyn

If there is a history of osteoporosis in your family; if you are thin, white or Asian; if you smoke or have used steroids for long periods of time; if you had irregular periods throughout most of your life; or if you are sedentary, then you are at higher risk for osteoporosis and should be screened. If you show osteopenia (beginning of bone loss), then you should begin calcium supplementation and weight-bearing exercise and stop smoking (of course everybody should stop smoking anyway!). If there are signs of early osteoporosis, then treatment with a medication like Fosamax should be considered. Raloxifene (Evista) is a new medication just approved by the FDA for preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.