Cancer-related menopause differs from natural menopause in both onset and physiology — chemotherapy-induced ovarian failure, aromatase inhibitor therapy, and treatment-related metabolic changes all shape what patients need nutritionally and how they tolerate intervention. Erin Pellegrin, RD, LDN, will present the culinary nutrition framework used at Unite for HER to counsel breast and ovarian cancer patients through this transition, covering food-based approaches to common side effects, risk-reduction and cardiometabolic considerations in a population already carrying treatment-related risk, and where nutrition counseling fits into the broader care plan. She'll close with practical talking points clinicians can use when patients raise diet and weight change during survivorship visits.

Erin Pellegrin, RD, LDN, serves as the Senior Director of Culinary Nutrition and Education at Unite for HER, where she has been part of the culinary nutrition team since 2018. In her role, she provides education and counseling to breast and ovarian cancer patients throughout treatment and survivorship - supporting side effect management, medically induced menopause, risk reduction, long-term health, and practical culinary skills through hands-on demonstrations. She also leads the organization’s national UFH Connect education initiative, connecting leading experts from across the country with the oncology community to present on timely, relevant, and impactful topics. Previously, she worked as an oncology clinical dietitian in Philadelphia. She holds a degree in nutrition from LaSalle University and a BA in Communication/Journalism from St. John Fisher College.