Breast cancer patients often aren’t forewarned that their breast cancer treatments can trigger early menopause—and/or more severe menopause symptoms. This silence often compounds patients’ stress, suffering, and confusion.
We are thrilled to have as our speakers Dr. Laila Agrawal, a hematologist/oncologist specializing in treating breast cancer patients, and Dr. Deepa Halaharvi, a breast cancer surgeon and breast cancer survivor herself. Drs. Agrawal and Deepa will tell breast cancer patients and their loved ones what they need to know—including what treatments may trigger menopause; how to understand and manage any sexual and intimacy challenges; and how to find knowledgeable and compassionate care.
Dr. Laila Agrawal is a medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer at Norton Cancer Institute in Louisville, Kentucky and runs a sexual health clinic for women with cancer. She graduated from medical school at Indiana University School of Medicine. She did her internship and residency training at Barnes Jewish Hospital at Washington University in St. Louis. She completed her hematology and oncology fellowship at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. You can find her on Instagram posting about sexual health for women after a cancer diagnosis.
Dr. Deepa Halaharvi specializes in breast surgery at OhioHealth Physician Group in Columbus, Ohio. After graduating from medical school in 2008, she did a residency in general surgery at OhioHealth Doctors Hospital and a Fellowship in breast surgical oncology at OhioHealth Grant Medical Center. After being a breast cancer surgeon for eight months, she faced her own breast cancer diagnosis in March 2015. Having seen both sides of the experiences as a breast cancer surgeon and a breast cancer patient, she has gained a unique insight and perspective into what it is like to face cancer. She has since started The Breast Cancer Podcast, a YouTube channel and social media outlets to help educate others about body awareness and managing a breast cancer diagnosis. Dr. Halaharvi’s hope is to help her patients live a good quality of life and find the new normal.
