After primary treatment, many breast cancer patients are given medicine to keep the disease from returning. Medicines called aromatase inhibitors block the production of estrogen, the hormone that feeds most breast cancers. Side effects of these medications can include joint pain and stiffness.

Breast cancer survivors can have ongoing health challenges after they’ve beaten "The Big C." Many are on medications that block estrogen, the hormone that drives most breast cancers. These medicines also increase the risk of osteoporosis (brittle bones) and increase the risk of fractures.

The majority of breast cancers are fed by the hormones estrogen and progesterone. That’s why women with hormone-sensitive breast cancer are prescribed medicines to block these hormones. But a good portion of women may be skipping the therapy.