Video: High bone density linked to breast cancer

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Bone scans are typically used to check for osteoporosis, but now researchers say they could be one of the most powerful predictors of breast cancer. In some cases having strong bones puts older women at a greater risk.

Two-time breast cancer survivor Ilya Sloan doesn't ask, "why me?" But she's often wondered, "How?"

"We definitely ask these questions of ourselves. What did we do? Did we have a role in this?" she said.

University of Arizona researchers say a routine bone density test could provide an important clue in predicting breast cancer risk in older women.

"What we're showing in the study is that bone density may be an indicator or a marker of something else which may link to breast cancer risk," said Dr. Zhao Chen, epidemiologist at the University of Arizona.

An eight-year study of 10,000 post menopausal women looked at factors like age, race and hip-bone mineral density T-score. The finding: Older women with high bone density are twice as likely to develop breast cancer.

"High bone density is a marker of increased risk for breast cancer," said Chen. "We can use that piece of information to predict your breast cancer risk in the future."

For Sloan, this finding holds the promise for earlier intervention, even prevention, and the hope that future generations won't have to go through what she did.

"That's the hope for my daughter and my granddaughter that we will be able to prevent, and if it occurs, cure this disease," said Sloan.

Doctors urge postmenopausal women to ask about bone scans when they go to have their yearly mammograms.