2021 Issue 2, Quarterly Newsletter

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WOMEN’S HEALTH

A newsletter from El Camino Women’s Medical Group

What a welcome Spring this is going to be!   Vaccinations are increasing, COVID 19 numbers are decreasing, and we are finally in orange tier here in Santa Clara County.

We have been busy and are excited to announce the addition of Dr. Christina Lam to our group!  She will complete our goal of becoming a five-physician group, giving us the perfect balance of being able to care for our own patients with personalized attention while having excellent and sufficient call coverage to allow for family and personal time.   Read more about her here. The timing is perfect as she will be starting one month after Dr. Balassiano starts her maternity leave in July!

Research has also been on our mind.  There are two studies that we are involved in which include innovate technology in for women’s health.  They are both related to pregnancy and if you are currently pregnant, consider enrolling.

We also have great contributions on preparing your skin for going out again by Dr. Soohoo, board certified dermatologist and an especially important article on myths around cancer by Dr. Singhal, board certified surgical oncologist.  A local hair stylist also shares advice on taking care of your hair.

Finally,please follow us on social medial to stay up-to-date on health care issues affecting women and news from our practice.  We will continue this year to do monthly giveaways of great skincare and haircare products.  Find us on Facebook or Instagram for great information and a chance to win free products!

As always, feedback is welcome regarding our practice, customer service, and even this newsletter!

We wish all of you a wonderful spring of being able to meet with friends and loved ones in person, but still masked!

Sarah Azad, MD

In this issue:

Welcome Dr. Lam!

Practice Updates

Online Prenatal Classes

Research at ECWMG

Getting Your Skin Ready to Leave The House

Cancer Myths and The Truths Behind Them

Impact of COVID19 on Bone Health in Women

I’m young and healthy. Why do I need my own primary care physician?

Hair Tips by Farin, Hair Stylist

Lifestyle Changes for Women with PCOS

Hereditary Cancer Testing

Hormone-Free, Lasting Treatment for Vaginal Changes from Menopause

El Camino Hospital Visitor Policy Updates

Highlights from our Women’s Health Blog

Don’t forget our new address: 

We’re now six months in our new space and still have patients showing up to our old office.  You can find us now in the Sobrato Pavilion:

2495 Hospital Drive, Suite 670

Mountain View, CA 94040

The new space also means great parking in the Sobrato parking structure, but you need to allow a little more time to park, enter the building and find us on the 6^th floor.

Mental Health

Between the pandemic and its impact on every area of life, so many people need an outlet.  We have a new therapist who joined us in March.  You can learn more about our new therapist, Sakeena, here.  Our other therapist Zainab is also still accepting new patients.   Both are scheduling patients via telemedicine.   If you feel you would benefit from therapy, reach out for an appointment.

Help with Yelp!

We’d like to request some help with Yelp!   We’ve been trying for 6 months to update our addresses on Yelp! and close down the old address listings.  In spite of multiple requests, both Drs. Gupta and Balassiano still have listings at the old office.   We would like to request you to go to those listings and mark them closed, in hopes that they will respond to consumer reports since they’ve been ignoring ours.  These are the last two common sites that show up on web searches that still have our old or incorrect addresses.

Don’t forget to follow us on social media to stay up to date on office information and women’s health topics.  You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.  Your feedback on our office practices and our physician and staff communication is always welcome.

ONLINE PRENATAL CLASSES

Prenatal Classes

We are now offering four virtual prenatal classes a month online.    These classes cover preparing for childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care.   These classes have been very popular, and we plan to have them every month.  They are also available for any women interested in signing up, though we prioritize our patients.

Virtual Breastfeeding Class

This is a 2-hour class presented by Nadia, RN, our lactation educator.  The class is a virtual, in-depth review of breastfeeding.  Learn how to get the best start, avoid pain, make sure your baby is getting enough, and when to ask for help!

 Virtual Newborn Care & Safety Class

2.5-hour class presented by Nadia, RN

Practical tips for caring for a newborn

• Appearance of newborn
• Normal skin conditions
• bathing & diaper changing
• safe sleeping
• Newborn safety:
• Car seat safety
• Choking hazards
• Poison control
• Childproofing your home

Childbirth Preparation Part One

2.5-hour class presented by Nadia, RN:

• The last month of pregnancy
• Preparing for the hospital
• Laboring at home, when to call and when to come in
• Admission to the hospital
• Active labor
• Pain management

Childbirth Preparation Part Two

2.5-hour class presented by Nadia, RN:

• The last stage of labor: pushing
• Vaginal delivery
• Cesarean delivery
• Initial recovery in the hospital
• The postpartum period

You can learn more about these classes or register here.

RESEARCH AT ECWMG

Materna Study

We are excited to be working with Materna in their upcoming trial for the MaternaPrep device.   We hope to start enrolling patients in the spring.  This NIH funded trial will look at the device’s safety and ability to reduce pelvic floor injuries and the length of labor in first-time mothers.

Next Gen Jane

Our office is currently working with NextGen Jane, a research company based in the Bay Area to build a safer, more accurate method for non-invasive prenatal testing that can possibly be done as early as 6 weeks of gestation. Since women shed thousands of cells from the placenta as early as 6 weeks of gestation, their study works to collect these cells directly from the fetus through a low absorbency tampon that patients would wear for an hour. Wearing tampons during pregnancy is safe and does not carry any adverse effects. To participate in their study, you can contact NextGen Jane directly, and they will help you start the process. They will ship you a kit with all of the instructions and assist you with the consent process. To thank you for your participation, NextGen Jane will provide you with a $25 amazon gift card.

GETTING YOUR SKIN READY TO LEAVE THE HOUSE

Lillian Soohoo, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist

Are you ready to resume your life post-Covid?

This past year changed our health, beauty and lifestyle habits.Many people skipped annual checkups and postponed doctorvisits, even when they were worried about their health.

Now is the time to consider scheduling your annual full-body skin exam (the one youmissed last year), especially if you have already been vaccinated. Medical offices equipped with Covid precautions are now open and ready to see patients.

With gradual lifting of Covid lockdown measures anticipated in the next few months, lifewill start to be more normal. We will slowly begin to venture back into our communities,schools and workplaces. Although mask-wearing may persist, social contact willhopefully increase. Let’s get ready!

Here are a few skin care tips to consider now:

1. Check out that mole or skin lesion you have been worried about.

Schedule afull body skin exam today. Skin cancer is the most common human cancer of all,and the American Academy of Dermatology recommends that all adults ages 18 andolder should have an annual full body skin exam.

2. Bring in your teen.

With school resuming, students who did not seem to mind theiracne- prone skin during home lockdown may feel differently at the prospect ofseeing their classmates in person. Getting a head start on clearing up acne beforeschool starts could be one of the best stressbusters a parent can provide to theirchild.

3. Acne is not just for kids.

Adult acne, mask acne, folliculitis (aka, “back-ne”) canbe a nuisance for women and men, too. A dermatologist can help you sort out theproblem and prescribe a customized treatment program to clear up you skin.

4. Zoom Face.

Whether you are working at home on Zoom or in the office, lookingyour best is always a plus. From “no-downtime” cosmetic procedures such as Botox,fillers and treating veins, to formulating a customized product routine, now is a greattime to improve your skin’s appearance to feel more refreshed and healthier.

5. Hair Treatments.

There are several hair restoration treatments now available at TheMenkes Clinic, including Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP). This treatment which uses apatient’s own plasma, is effective in regrowing scalp hair in both men and women and is safe with no downtime.

The Menkes Clinic is open to evaluate and treat new and established patients via teledermatology. If you

have more questions or would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Soohoo, please call 650.962.4600 or

schedule appointments online at www.menkesclinic.com.

The Menkes Clinic, Medical, Surgical, Pediatric & Cosmetic Dermatology
2490 Hospital Drive, Suite 201
Mountain View, CA 94040

Lillian Soohoo, MD
Board Certified Dermatologist
The Menkes Clinic
2490 Hospital Drive Suite 201,
Mountain View, CA 94040
650-962-4600

CANCER MYTHS AND THE TRUTHS BEHIND THEM

By Shyamali Singhal, MD

Surgical Oncologist

Founder of Hope & Beauty

Popular Myths And Misconceptions About Cancer- Explained

When it comes to cancer, many myths get passed around by well-meaning friends and family members. Those myths often end up causing more stress for patients than they were already experiencing.

Some popular beliefs about how cancer starts and spreads can seem to make sense, especially when those ideas are rooted in old, previously accepted theories. But incorrect ideas about cancer can lead to unnecessary worry and even stop good prevention and treatment choices.

There are so many unproven stories and myths about this disease that it can be very hard to sort out the facts from the fiction.

Just doing a swift search for cancer on Google brings up not only a bounty of credible information about the disease and its treatment but also a number of pages covering common myths and misconceptions. So how do we know what’s accurate when some of these myths can sound perfectly logical?

Take a look at some common mistakes about cancer and the truth behind these myths.

Biopsy Can Help Cancer To Spread?

“There’s absolutely no evidence that doing a biopsy or removing cancer will make it spread,” said Dr. Shyamali Singhal, surgical oncologist and founder of H&B.

When a tumor needs to be removed or tested, the process will not cause cancer to grow. However, having it removed or tested is an important part of the treatment process.

There’s No Need For Surgery If The Tumor Is Solid?

“Surgery is always needed, if possible, with these solid tumors,” Dr. Shyamali says.

Even if other forms of treatment are used to shrink solid tumors or lower the chances of the cancer returning, surgery is used to remove them.

Eating Sugar Will Make Cancer Worse?

No. Although research has shown that cancer cells consume more sugar than normal cells, no studies have shown that eating sugar will make your cancer worse or that, if you stop eating sugar, your cancer will shrink or disappear. However, a high-sugar diet may contribute to excess weight gain, and obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing several types of cancer.

Artificial Sweeteners Can Be The Cause Of Cancer?

This is not true, actually. Researchers have conducted studies on the safety of artificial sweeteners saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, and neotame, and found no evidence that they cause cancer in humans. All of these artificial sweeteners except for cyclamate have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for sale in the United States.

Radiation From Mobile Phones Causes Cancer?

Many electronic and communications devices produce non-ionizing radiation, which isn’t powerful enough to damage DNA and is unlikely to cause cancer.

Superfoods Will Prevent Cancer?

Some foods like blueberries, beetroot, broccoli, garlic, and green tea are known as cancer-preventing superfoods. These foods are certainly good for your health and are known to have positive effects in the fight against cancer, eg. containing antioxidants or serving to remove toxic elements in the body. Nevertheless, it would be naive to look at any special food as a protection against cancer. Everybody is complex and cancer reacts differently in every person. There is no single food or food group that can present adequate protection against cancer.

It’s Impossible To Get Cancer Without A Family History Of Cancer?

Only 5% to 10% of cancers are passed down from parents to children. The bulk of cancer cases are induced by genetic changes that occur throughout a person’s lifetime. These alterations, or mutations, are usually onset by lifestyle choices, such as abusing tobacco, not wearing sunscreen, or maintaining an unhealthy weight. Exposure to certain chemicals in our workplaces and homes can also induce mutations. Nevertheless, sometimes there is no clear reason why these changes happen.

A single mutation is unlikely to cause cancer by itself. However, these mutations build up throughout our lifetime. That is one reason why more than 60% of cancers in the United States occur in people who are 65 and older.

Chemotherapy Always Has Unavoidable Bad Side Effects?

While terrible side effects were frequent when chemotherapy was first introduced, medical progress in recent decades has helped to reduce the risk of harmful effects.

“Today, there are a lot of good things that we do to decrease or even eradicate a lot of these side effects,” Dr. Shyamali says.

Misconceptions About Cancer Can Cause Unnecessary Worries

There is a lot of information about cancer available, but some of it is misleading or wrong. Myths and misconceptions about cancer can cause additional worries about your health. The wrong information may even affect the way one responds or reacts to a diagnosis of this disease. Here are the facts behind some of the most prevalent cancer myths and misconceptions. Your health care team is also a good resource if you have any questions about the correctness of anything you hear or read.

Shyamali Singhal, MD
Board Certified Surgical Oncologist
2500 Hospital Dr #15-1,
Mountain View, CA 94040
(650) 641-7861

IMPACT OF COVID19 ON BONE HEALTH IN WOMEN

Lakshmi Myneni, MD FACP

Board Certified in Primary Care and Rheumatology

Bone health may have taken a backseat but now is the time you can catch up with your care!

Questions have been raised as to what extent the “global state of public health emergency of 2020” impacted patient’s bone health because of the relative physical inactivity, the dietary changes and relative lack of testing and evaluation.

The good news is probably not a lot.

Bone loss generally occurs slowly “over years and sometimes decades” in adults.

Despite stay-at-home orders in 2020 most patients did not experience delays in oral medication prescription.  However, we know that abrupt cessation of certain therapies (injectables for bone health) can cause increased risk of harm and some treatments have been inadvertently delayed or deferred due to lack of access.

The greater fear is that in the past year there have been delays in the assessments of bone loss due to the lack of scheduled bone density testing.

It is also possible that newer entrants to the peri menopausal stage have not been screened for “the early rapid bone loss” that occurs around the time of menopause in some women. A simple health assessment and lab testing are generally recommended at this time.

How you can get back on track with ensuring good Bone health:

 Schedule your annual health assessment by your primary doctor. Be sure to initiate a discussion regarding your concerns about the state of your bone health.

1. Let your doctor know if you had a fracture (wrist, rib, hip, back or lower extremity) in the past year.  If you are above 50, you should be investigated by a specialist for secondary causes of bone loss and fracture.
2. Have your risk for bone loss assessed by your gynecologist at your annual visit.
3. You should have a DEXA at the time of menopause and then every two or four years thereafter based on your risk factors and prescribed therapy.
4. If you are already on treatment for your Bone health you should be reevaluated for further testing or switching therapy as indicated by the progress in the last two years.

Lakshmi Myneni, MD FACP FACR
Rheumatology, Immunology and Bone health.
2490 Hospital Dr Suite 102
Mountain View, CA 94040
650-969-7006
www.corehic.com

I’M YOUNG AND HEALTHY. WHY DO I NEED MY OWN PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN?

PradeepaSelvakumar, MD FACP
Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine

Because you want to stay that way!

American healthcare for many decades has taken the approach of treating problems after they have happened. For example, a patient has a heart attack, we open up the blockage, place a stent or even do open heart surgery. We then put that patient on a plethora of medications and then discuss diet and exercise after the fact. Unfortunately, we are seeing this happen at younger and younger ages, even in patients in their 30s. A combination of poor diet, more stress, less sleep, less activity, less social connection is leading to the development of chronic medical conditions starting early in life.

There is a movement now to prevent problems before they begin. It’s not just heart attacks, strokes and cancers. It’s anxiety, depression, insomnia, gastritis, stress, etc.  that once we recognize it early on, we can take steps to minimize, control and attack head-on before it becomes debilitating. Establishing a relationship with a primary care physician (PCP) allows someone to know your baseline and be able recognize when you don’t feel yourself, when your blood pressure starts to creep up or when your weight starts to change.

What does a primary care physician do?

 A PCP can be either an internal medicine or family medicine specialist who is trained to do appropriate screening, examine and treat numerous medical issues. Something that may seem benign to you, can be the harbinger of something more ominous. Having a relationship with a physician who you see regularly for your annual physical, will allow you to mention things that concern you, keep up with current screening recommendations and be able to catch potentially reversible issues like pre-hypertension, prediabetes, and elevated cholesterol before they become established problems.

I have a PPO and can go straight to a subspecialist. Why do I need to see a PCP first?

A PCP has to keep up with a broad base of knowledge. For example, say you have had a cough from months- there are many things that can cause a cough. If you went straight to a lung doctor (pulmonologist), you would have missed other things that can cause a cough in in the area of gastroenterology, ear/nose/throat or even cancer. A PCP can evaluate you in an organized and step-wise fashion, do the appropriate exam and testing and treat the problem. If the problem requires more evaluation, your PCP can refer you to the appropriate subspecialist and coordinate care and close that loop with you in follow up.

How can a primary care physician save me money?

High-deductible insurance plans are commonplace and patients are responsible for the first $1500 to $5/10K of their health expenses. An emergency room visit, hospitalization or procedure can be financially devastating. A PCP, who you regularly see can help prevent something catastrophic or help you navigate the most cost-efficient path. A PCP can evaluate you for many concerns and possibly save you a visit to a subspecialist and expensive testing. In addition, a PCP may be able to point you to resources that have lower cash prices for medications, imaging or other testing. In the grand scheme of your overall health, your physician can prevent chronic medical conditions, help you avoid polypharmacy and live a longer, healthy life!

How do I find the right PCP for me?

Referrals from friends who have had good experiences with their physician is a great way to start. A subspecialist you have seen may know of a great PCP that they work. Once you meet your doctor, see if you have a connection or are on the same page for your health goals. Make sure you do your annual physicals but also follow up on things early that pop up instead of waiting too long. A good PCP will make sure you are up-to-date with screening, listen to your health goals, educate you on health topics and be there when you have an acute health issue.

You can find a PCP who is in a solo/group private practice, a physician within a large system such as Sutter/Stanford/UCSF, practices that require nominal fees such as One Medical, concierge practices (membership fee-based) that are both private or corporate like MDVIP or Direct Primary Care (DPC) where you pay monthly fee and can get negotiated cash prices on labs, imaging. All types of practices have pluses/minuses but it’s important to find out what feature is important to you. Do you want ease of access to appointments, be able to communicate with your physician/front office staff easily, be connected within a large system, have more time with your physician, location of practice and ancillary (lab, x-ray, etc.) services.

Should I just look at online reviews?

Reviews on Google, Yelp and other websites are not wholly reliable. There may be reviews from people who have never seen the physician, who were not happy with front desk staff or were unhappy about not getting a particular medication/test. Unfortunately, due to physician-patient privacy issues, physicians cannot respond specifically to reviews, so you may not see the whole picture. If you decide to use online reviews, use them as a piece of your total research.

When you find your own PCP, just know that you have made the first step in investing

PradeepaSelvakumar, MD
Board Certified Internal Medicine

Bloom Primary Care
101 S San Mateo Drive Suite 102
San Mateo, CA 94401
650-435-8211
http://www.bloomprimarycare.com
moc.e1695901829racyr1695901829amirp1695901829moolb1695901829@olle1695901829h1695901829

HAIR TIPS BY FARIN, HAIRSTYIST

Farin Shafer
Hair Stylist

After 40 years in the hairstyling industry as a business owner and stylist, “What hair style suits me best?” is far and away the most frequently asked question I receive. Here are the considerations I walk new clients through during my free consultation before their first cut or coloring.

First, the hair style should complement your face shape. For example, I recommend that women with round and square shaped faces should have their hair no shorter than the base of their neck and I might also add some height to the top of their hair while avoiding volume to the sides of the face. Whereas, women with slender and longer faces might consider getting bangs to lessen their forehead length and should avoid adding height to the top of their hair or growing their hair too long.

Second, I take into account their lifestyle, because I tend to recommend more active women consider shorter hair because it is easier to take care of, whereas less active women may prefer a more high maintenance hairstyle and upkeep.

Next, I try to take age into account by suggesting that women over 40 go a shade lighter than normal to minimize the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes and also go a shade darker if someone has grey or very pale eyebrows to emphasize their eyes.

Finally, I take into account hair texture (straight, curly, wavy, thin, thick), weight, and height to choose a hairstyle that complements your natural beauty – but for these tips you can call me for a free consultation at (408) 307-3679, email me at moc.l1695901829iamg@1695901829refah1695901829s.nir1695901829af1695901829, check out my website.  I offer full hairstyling services including cutting, styling, straightening, hair & eyelash coloring, highlighting, waxing, and threading.bsite, or come in-person (with masks and social distancing).I offer full hairstyling services including cutting, styling, straightening, hair & eyelash coloring, highlighting, waxing, and threading.

Farin Shafer, Hair Stylist
Mastaneh Hair Salon
560 S. Murphy Ave
Sunnyvale, CA, 94086
408-307-3679

LIFESTYLE CHANGES FOR WOMEN WITH PCOS

By Svetlana Dani, MD

Board Certified in Primary Care Sports Medicine

Lifestyle Changes In Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

What is PCOS?
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a major cause of menstrual irregularity and infertility in women, affecting between 5-10 percent of all women. The prevalence is even higher in certain populations. There is the frequent presence of associated risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including obesity and insulin resistance.

Common Symptoms of PCOS
The syndrome can have different symptoms in each woman, making it very hard to diagnose. Some women will have symptoms for several years before arriving at a certain diagnosis. In one large study, some women had seen three or more health professionals over a span of 2 years before the diagnosis was made. This can be incredibly frustrating and difficult to deal with. Common symptoms seen in PCOS are:

• Irregular or missing periods – usually less than 9 periods in 1 year
• Signs of increased amounts of testosterone. All women produce some amounts of the male hormone called testosterone. Women with PCOS have a higher amount of testosterone, which can result in symptoms such as the increased amount of facial hair, acne, thinning of hair on the scalp
• Ovarian cysts on ultrasound
• Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
• Fatigue
• Depression

Diagnosis of PCOS is usually based on your symptoms in combination with bloodwork and an ultrasound. Ask your obstetrician-gynecologist about the process.

What are the implications and what lifestyle changes can we implement?
Women with PCOS are at an increased risk of developing infertility, insulin resistance, diabetes type 2 as well as cardiovascular disease. So how can we prevent this? The biggest lifestyle change that can prevent insulin resistance and has been shown to help with ovulation is consistent exercise. Frequently we take an all-or-nothing approach to exercise. We feel like we need to put in an hour of exercise a day for it to be effective but this is not the case! Start with 10 minutes of walking a day. Keep it consistent and try to do it every day – the goal is to build a habit that fits into your lifestyle so you can sustainably do it for the long haul.

Try resistance training. Start with simple movements such as squats, lunges, planks and hip bridges. There is no reason to make it complicated – in fact, when it comes to resistance training, simple is best. Start without weights and add them in gradually as you get more comfortable with the process. Resistance training is fantastic for women – lean muscle requires more energy to build and upkeep, which speeds up your resting metabolism. Having lean muscle helps us move more at times we are not purposely exercising, which in turn increases how many calories we burn in a day. Additionally, resistance training is the only form of exercise that has been shown to build up our bones and prevent osteoporosis. Some women are worried about getting bulky with resistance training – evidence shows this won’t happen! “Bulking up” requires a very conscious and comprehensive increase in food intake and is actually very hard to accomplish – just ask your average aspiring bodybuilder!

There are certainly some diet changes you can make. Try to focus on things you can add to your diet rather than things you need to cut back on. Adding more protein is the first step. We all need protein to provide us with the building blocks to build and upkeep lean muscle and help with optimal bone health. Protein-rich foods will keep you satiated for longer and you will be less likely to reach for sugary snacks between meals. Lean meats such as chicken, turkey, fish, shellfish are a great source of protein. Dairy foods such as cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese are excellent sources of not only protein but calcium as well. You have even more options if you’re vegetarian: some examples are edamame, black beans, eggs, chickpeas, kidney beans, red beans, tofu, tempeh, lentils, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and the list goes on and on. Another great way to target insulin resistance specifically is to substitute simple carbohydrates with more complex carbs. Substitute the cheerios and corn flakes with oatmeal for all bran cereal. Swap out the rice and white pasta for brown rice and whole wheat pasta. Adding in volume foods –  fruits, salads, steamed broccoli, cauliflower, spinach –will keep you satiated for longer as well.

Lastly, treat yourself well and try to get the sleep you need at night. Sleep will help regulate the levels of cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone, which tends to be elevated in women with PCOS. Sleep has been shown to help with weight loss and building lean muscle mass. Snooze away for a full 7-8 hours a night and notice your fatigue level change.

If you would like more information on lifestyle changes, please contact Dr. Svetlana Dani’s office.

2430 Samaritan Dr.
San Jose, CA 95124
P: (408)559-3889
SvetlanaDaniMD.com
moc.D1695901829MinaD1695901829analt1695901829evS@o1695901829fni1695901829

Hereditary Cancer Testing

El Camino Women’s Medical Group is now offering the Empower Hereditary Cancer Screen through our laboratory partner, Natera, to assess your risk for common hereditary cancers.

What is the Empower Hereditary Cancer Test?
Empower analyzes your genes to determine your risk for common hereditary cancers.

The Empower Hereditary Cancer Test helps you understand if you have an increased risk for developing cancer or why it might be common in your family. This knowledge can help you make decisions for the future such as more frequent cancer screenings or talking to your family members about their cancer risk.

HORMONE-FREE, LASTING TREATMENT FOR VAGINAL CHANGES FROM MENOPAUSE

The genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is a condition that affects over 60% of women after menopause, as well as women who have undergone treatment for breast cancer.  We’ve written about treatment options several times in our newsletters and on our blog.    Below is a chart we put together that covers the wide variety of options that help mitigate the effects of dryness, irritation and pain with sex that comes with GSM:

We have been offering the MonaLisa Laser for over 5 years in our office and have treated close to one hundred women with this hormone-free, effective treatment.   The improvement is significant with many women being able to discontinue hormone supplements and the effects last as women only need maintenance treatments every 1-3 years.   Over 90% of our patients are happy they chose this treatment and recommend it to others.

For new paitents scheduling their first treatment in April and May of 2021, we’re offering a huge discount of 45%, bringing the first years treatment (3 treatments total) total cost to $990.   If you’ve been on the fence about it, this is the time to get it scheduled and start your treatment.   You can reach out to Shar at moc.n1695901829emowo1695901829nimac1695901829le@ra1695901829hS1695901829 or by calling 650-396-8110.

This is available to patients and also people new to our practice, feel free to share with loved ones who you know may be affected by GSM.

You can read more about the treatment itself here.

EL CAMINO HOSPITAL VISITOR POLICY UPDATES

From the hospital’s website: 

We understand this is a special time for you and your family. For the safety of our patients and staff, we are limiting visitors to one (1) support person at a time, while you are in the hospital, up to two per day. Professional doulas may also attend your delivery per California Department of Health guidelines (see also doula requirements).

Below are some guidelines for your partner/support person:

• Ensure your birth partner/support person is a healthy adult.
• Birth partners/support persons will wear a mask in the hospital and should limit the number of times they leave the room. Food may be ordered from the room, or from local food delivery services.
• We are happy to support virtual visits with friends and family.

Below are guidelines for a trained professional doula attending an active labor and delivery:

• The doula needs to bring documentation of a negative COVID-19 test within the last 14 days when arriving at the hospital.
• The doula needs to bring printed proof of business documentation when arriving at the hospital.
• The doula will be screened upon entry to the hospital and will be required to wear a mask in the hospital. They will be rescreened every eight hours.
• The doula should remain in the patient’s room as much as possible and minimize leaving and returning to the room.
• The doula can only accompany a mom during active labor and delivery, not after the birth.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR WOMEN’S HEALTH BLOG

If you haven’t seen our Women’s Health Blog, you should check it out!   It is a way for us to put out up-to-date information on relevant women’s health issues.  For an entire year now, our most popular article was Stop Eating all The Time: Snacking and Intermittent Fasting, over 1000 of you read this article so far this year! An article by guest author Dr. Shyamali Singhal on Keeping your Self Esteem After a Mastectomy was the next most-read article this year.  A close third was an article about the MonaLisa Touch laser treatment for the genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM).

We update our blog at least a few times a month with information on all kinds of women’s health issues.  Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram to be informed when we post new articles and stay updated on the latest in women’s health.

GENERAL OFFICE INFORMATION