“Real Housewives of Dallas” star Tiffany Hendra, 53, is openly sharing her menopausal journey to inspire women overwhelmed by its lingering symptoms. Hendra views this transitional stage in life as a gift to a new, reinvigorated version of herself.
According to the National Institute on Aging, menopause occurs naturally in women between 45 and 55, marking the end of their reproductive years.
“Menopause means different things to different people. The average experience begins with sleep disturbances, hot flashes, night sweats, and cessation of periods. The actual medical definition of menopause is more than twelve months of no periods,” Cedars-Sinai Medical Center OB/GYN and oncologist Dr. Bobbie J. Rimel explains to SurvivorNet.
Hendra is also a skin cancer survivor after sharing her diagnosis in 2021. She underwent Mohs surgery to treat melanoma. The procedure works by removing the skin cancer layer by layer by making small incisions.
Melanoma starts in the same cells that give your skin, hair, and eyes their color. In melanoma, the cells change, allowing them to spread to other organs.
The most important thing to look for when finding melanoma in its early stages is a new spot on your skin or a spot that changes in size, shape, or color.
For many women, menopause is framed as a difficult season marked by hormonal swings, physical discomfort, and wild emotions. But for “Real Housewives of Dallas” alum Tiffany Hendra, 54, it proved to be something entirely different, a “gift” from God.
Hendra acknowledges the realities of menopause, from shifts in her libido to hot flashes, most associated with the condition, but she stresses that these changes are temporary.
In her view, women come out on the other side stronger, clearer-minded, and more aligned with who they’re meant to be.
“When I had this moment of clarity that menopause is a gift — I know, crazy — but neuroscientists talk about the brain changing during menopause,” she said during an appearance on The Amy Robbins Show.
“Menopause means different things to different people. The average experience begins with sleep disturbances, hot flashes, night sweats, and cessation of periods. The actual medical definition of menopause is more than twelve months of no periods,” explains Cedars-Sinai Medical Center OB/GYN and oncologist Dr. Bobbie J. Rimel, speaking to SurvivorNet.
According to the National Institute on Aging, menopause occurs naturally in women between 45 and 55, marking the end of their reproductive years.
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 01: TV personality Tiffany Hendra attends the 2016 NBCUniversal Summer Press Day at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village on April 1, 2016, in Westlake Village, California. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Hendra’s belief in menopause as a transformational phase is backed by science.
Research published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience says, “Brain volumetric differences have been reported most frequently in the frontal and temporal cortices as well as the hippocampus. These regions are important for higher cognitive tasks and memory.”
Essentially, the menopausal brain rewires itself, potentially offering women a sharper focus and a renewed sense of self.
Despite her positive approach, Hendra admits menopause isn’t without hurdles.
“Your libido goes out the window for a while, sexy time with your husband, and all of those sorts of things, your sense of style. You’re not losing anything—actually, you’re becoming the woman that God created you to be, so all of these women that are a little older than me—55, 56, 57—are rocking out life,” she shared.
Hormone Replacement Therapy to Ease Menopausal Symptoms Comes at a Risk
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is prescribed to help women manage menopausal symptoms. However, it’s also known to increase your risk of certain cancers.
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, women are diagnosed with menopause after they have gone one year, or 12 months, without a period. Menopause is diagnosed when a woman is in her 40s or 50s. However, the average age of menopause in the United States is 51.
Some women experience intense symptoms during menopause:
Hot flashes
Problems with sleeping
Bone thinning
Pain during sex
As a result, doctors may prescribe hormone replacement therapy, which controls the levels of estrogen and progesterone in a woman’s body.
HRT Related Cancer Risks
A 2019 analysis of 26 studies that include more than 4 million women found a correlation between HRT and ovarian cancer incidence for women in the United States and Europe.
The correlation was highest in two subtypes (epithelial-stromal and endometrioid ovarian tumors). However, the association couldn’t be reproduced in women in other parts of the world.
A 2017 study found that women on HRT had a 32% increased chance of developing serous borderline ovarian tumors. It’s also been determined that most types of HRT increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer.
It’s important to note that HRT is sometimes part of ovarian cancer treatment after a woman has removed her ovaries.
“There is actually some data that suggests improved survival with HRT given to ovarian cancer patients after diagnosis,” Dr. Rimel previously told SurvivorNet.
In 2012, a randomized control trial showed significantly improved survival in women with epithelial ovarian cancer who received HRT (estrogen) and standard cancer treatment.
However, routine hormone replacement therapy is also debated, as it minimizes the risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular problems, and sexual dysfunction. Still, the evidence is considered “too limited” to support its routine use.
Tiffany’s Skin Cancer Journey
In January 2021, Hendra shared with her fans that she joined the “Melanoma Warrior Tribe” while sharing a photo of her bandaged shoulder, which underwent treatment for melanoma, which is a type of skin cancer.
“It’s been a whirlwind week, and I must share this journey to encourage everyone to be in tune with your body and do regular at-home body scans as well as yearly scans with your doc,” Hendra wrote at the time.
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 13: Real Housewives Siggy Flicker, Dolores Catania, Tiffany Hendra, and Cary Deuber attend the Chiara Boni La Petite Robe fashion show during New York Fashion Week: The Shows at The Dock, Skylight at Moynihan Station on September 13, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for New York Fashion Week: The Shows)
She said a flat-looking freckle on her upper arm “popped up like a pimple.” She watched the unusual spot on her arm for a few months and noticed it “grew with a vengeance.” Several months later, she underwent a full-body scan.
After examining the spot on her arm, it was diagnosed as melanoma.
Melanoma starts in the same cells that give your skin, hair, and eyes their color. In melanoma, the cells change in a way that allows them to spread to other organs. You’re most likely to find melanoma on sun-exposed skin areas like your face, neck, arms, and legs. However, areas with little to no sun exposure may also get melanoma, such as your palms, feet, eyes, mouth, or under your nails.
Hendra underwent Mohs surgery, which removes the cancer layer by layer until all abnormal cells are gone.
WATCH: How Mohs Surgery Removes Skin Cancer With Small Incisions.
According to SurvivorNet’s experts, changes to a mole you’ve had for a while or a new growth on your skin could be signs of melanoma. You’ll want to watch for them and tell your doctor about any changes you notice.
WATCH: How do you perform a skin check using the ABCDEs?
SurvivorNet experts recommend avoiding unprotected sun exposure because ultraviolet (UV) radiation can lead to melanoma. Tanning beds pose ultraviolet radiation risks for skin cancer and should be avoided. Many dermatologists recommend using spray tans to reduce the risk of melanoma skin cancer.
SurvivorNet’s medical experts say the most important thing to look for when it comes to finding melanoma is a new spot on your skin or a spot that is changing in size, shape, or color.
‘My Health Questions’ Helps You With Sudden Questions In Between Doctor Appointments
If you are diagnosed with skin cancer or another condition, you may have some questions ahead of your next doctor appointment. Make use of SurvivorNet’s proprietary AI resource “My Health Questions” to prepare you with strong questions for your care team.
“My Health Questions” was built specifically for the realities of cancer care experienced by patients and caregivers, and not as a general‑purpose chatbot.
It handles both complex clinical issues and everyday logistical concerns with accuracy, clarity, and personalization.
Users can create a tailored health profile by entering details such as age, gender, and location, allowing the platform to refine responses over time. This reflects SurvivorNet’s mission: pairing cutting‑edge technology with physician‑driven expertise to make complex medical information accessible and actionable.
Crucially, the tool is doctor‑supported. Leading oncology experts review the information to ensure it is accurate, safe, and easy to understand.
The goal is not to replace clinicians, but to help patients arrive at appointments better prepared with informed questions and a clearer understanding of their care journey.
