Oral Health in Breast Cancer Survivors on Aromatase Inhibitors

This study will have a sample of 300 postmenopausal women; 150 healthy women and 150 with early breast cancer using Aromatase Inhibitors

Inclusion Criteria:

Postmenopausal as defined by NCCN (any of the following)

• Prior bilateral oophorectomy
• Age equal to or greater then 60 years of age
• Age less then 60 and amenorrheic for 12 or more months in the absence of chemotherapy, tamoxifen, toremifen or ovarian suppression and FSH and estradiol in the postmenopausal range
• If taking tamoxifen or toremifen and age less then 60y, then FSH and plasma estradiol level in postmenopausal ranges

Informed consent- Individuals capable of consenting and self administering the survey instrument Dentate- At least 15 teeth present.

AI users:

• Diagnosis of BCa- Histologic confirmed diagnosis of BCa: Stage 0, I, II, or III with no evidence of metastatic disease.
• Treatment- AI as clinically indicated (AI may be anastrozole, exemestane or letrozole) > 1 month. Subjects may have had prior tamoxifen or raloxifene. Subjects may have had chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Must be within the first year of consecutive AI therapy. If a subject started AI, discontinued, then restarted, they will be accepted into the study.

Controls:

• No Diagnosis of cancer.- Patients must not have a diagnosis of any cancer (Not including a history of localized thyroid or skin cancer).

Exclusion Criteria:

Medical history

• Metastatic BCa (AI treated group: fully resected locally recurrent disease is permitted if the patient has been rendered without evidence of disease).
• Significant psychiatric illness/social situations that would preclude completion of questionnaire.

Medications

• Chronic medications known to affect the periodontal status (calcium antagonist, anti-convulsives, immunosuppressives (> prednisone 7.5mg daily). NSAIDS and bisphosphonates are permitted.
• Premedication- Conditions that require antibiotic therapy will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. (Patients taking prophylaxis for joint replacements will not be excluded.)