Cancer treatment can put women into premature menopause. Symptoms like night sweats and hot flashes can stem from lack of estrogen.
Cancer patients are not given estrogen because it can fuel the cancer. If the disease is estrogen-sensitive, it's important to protect the patient by denying estrogen.
There are options to find a new normal for cancer patients. Vaginal estrogen doesn't enter the body in large quantities and can help relieve some symptoms.
It's important to discuss what to expect from cancer treatment to be sure it's not a surprise. Knowing that premature menopause is a possibility helps patients be aware of what's happening and how to address it.
Menopause expert Dr. Diana Bitner joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss menopause and cancer survivorship.
Cancer Survivorship & Menopause
Cancer treatment can cause premature menopause. Get the basics on cancer survivorship and menopause.
Additional Info
- Segment Number: 1
- Audio File: health_radio/1618ml5a.mp3
- Featured Speaker: Diana Bitner, MD
- Guest Website: Spectrum Health
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Guest Bio:
Diana Bitner, MD, is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and a certified menopause practitioner. She received her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is a member of the Spectrum Health Medical Group.
Dr. Bitner has special interests in women's wellness and prevention of heart disease, menopause, perimenopause, laparoscopic and robotic pelvic surgery, and pelvic pain. She enjoys helping women through times of health concerns and life phase transitions with an integrated and evidence-based approach. Her professional goal is to help women be as healthy as they want to be. She is also fluent in Portuguese.
Dr. Bitner has a weekly media engagement with WXMI Fox 17 Morning Mix discussing health topics of importance to women. She regularly engages in media and online chats and authors a blog, titled Midlife & Menopause Moments, which can be found on Health Beat, Spectrum Health's e-news website. - Length (mins): 10
- Waiver Received: Yes
- Host: Melanie Cole, MS
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