Mercedes Castiel, MD, FACOG, FRCS(C)

Women at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer may opt for preventive surgery to remove their ovaries. For those women who are premenopausal, I discuss the options for managing menopausal symptoms with them to help develop a treatment plan before their surgery.

I also have expertise in helping women to manage the symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and night sweats and the increased risk of osteoporosis that can occur after menopause or is due to cancer treatment. I care for both young women whose early-onset menopause is related to cancer therapy and older women who have reached menopause naturally but whose choices for managing symptoms are limited because of their cancer histories. For example, estrogen-based hormone replacement therapy may not be the best option for some women who have been treated for breast cancer.

Many women have concerns and questions about the various treatments for managing menopausal symptoms. I discuss all treatment options and the pros and cons of each with my patients before establishing an individualized treatment plan. With so many advances and treatment options available today, menopausal symptoms can usually be managed very effectively.

My research interests include investigating ways to maximize the quality of life of menopausal patients who have been treated for cancer and who are not candidates for hormone therapy.