Kathy Dettwyler wrote about an article,

> >From the MSNBC web site:
>
> http://www.msnbc.com/news/589512.asp
>
> Reporting a new study linking high bone density in older women to a
> higher risk of breast cancer.  Probably because the older women with higher bone
> density are those who used hormone replacement therapy, thus exposing
> their bodies to more estrogen.
>
I am trying to figure out what the more "natural" course of events would
be... If a woman birthed and breastfed more babies, and/or breastfed
each baby longer, she would have much less estrogen in her body and a
lesser risk of breast cancer, right? Would she also have a greater
chance of osteoporosis? Or are we still ignoring the bounce-back effect
after weaning (which may not even be completed at menopause) or is bone
density not really the prime indicator of osteoporosis? Is bone density
less of a problem in a society in which women carry and bounce babies
(both in and outside of their bodies) for greater periods of their adult
life? Is the "need" for HRT based on a model in which a woman has
birthed a small number of children, not breastfed, but has worked out
daily at the gym and then loses bone density later on in life, so that
the loss is considered not normal? Is bone density correlated with
osteoporosis as an independent variable, or are there lifestyle and
wellness issues that might be confusing us?
I'm supposed to be at a workshop in Maine today with Linda Smith. :-(
Since I couldn't go, I'm trying to review "research methods" today. Any
help would be appreciated.
Jo-Anne

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