Finding Relief from Hot Flashes
Cancer treatments can cause men and women to experience hot flashes — particularly, women taking anti-estrogen therapy for breast cancer or men taking androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer.
While many cancer survivors don’t experience hot flashes at all, some experience intolerable hot flashes multiple times throughout the day and night, significantly impacting their quality of life.
While many cancer survivors don’t experience hot flashes at all, some experience intolerable hot flashes multiple times throughout the day and night, significantly impacting their quality of life.
Make sure to talk with your doctor before starting any new therapies or techniques for hot flashes.
Hypnotherapy
City of Hope has nurses trained in hypnotherapy, which can reduce hot flashes by as much as 74 percent.
Hormone therapy
While hormone therapy has been found to help with hot flashes, it’s not recommend for cancer survivors, unless specifically prescribed by an oncologic endocrinologist.
Medications
- Gabapentin (Neurontin)
- Effexor (Venlafaxine)
- Paroxetine (Paxil or Brisdelle)
Lifestyle changes
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Don’t smoke
- Practice relaxation techniques
- Acupuncture