HIP FRACTURES:Cancer treatment is a major cause

Most hip fractures are blamed on the changes following the menopause – but researchers have found another major cause. They’ve discovered that pelvic irradiation, such as given as a therapy for rectal cancer, significantly increases the risk of a fracture. Irradiation therapy can increase the risk by more than three times, depending on the type of cancer being treated, the research team found (JAMA, 2005; 294: 2587-93).