April 24, 00 -- Seventy four year old Fern Reighter is on a mission to find out about inside her body.

She knows the pain of a leg broken many years ago and she is worried as she ages that she may break another bone because of osteoporosis.

Fern Reighter/patient: "I have seen people that have these here humps on their neck area in the back and I have seen that and realized to what extent that it has gone for them and that causes concern."

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become thin and weak.

It occurs mostly in women after menopause.

As estrogen levels decline, bone is lost and more easily break.

Dr. Bobo Tanner/Vanderbilt University Medical Center: "There were 1 and a half million fractures from osteoporosis last year in this country and that's more than there were heart attacks in women, breast cancer in women, strokes in women, uterine cancer put together. Some of these fractures are not easy to get over."

Tanner is heading up a study.

He's looking for women over age 65 who have undiagnosed osteoporosis.

Patients undergo a painless bone density test.

Then, they begin taking a new anti-resorptive drug to increase bone density.

Doctors hope to encourage patients to stay on their medication long term for best results.

Dr. Bobo Tanner/Vanderbilt University Medical Center: "Will people take their medicine more regularly and will they get more benefit if we are able to give them some feedback."

Tanner will follow study participants for two years, measuring changes in bone metabolism through urine and blood tests.

Fern Reighter/patient: "I think it's a wonderful thing if they can help you to avoid these dangers."

Dr. Tanner advises it is very important for women to take calcium supplements in addition to their osteoporosis medication so they can be sure to get enough calcium each day.