Hot flashes are a sudden increase in warmth on an area of your body — primarily the face, neck, and chest. Hot flashes can cause temporary sweating and flushing of the face or skin despite no actual change in the external temperature.   

• Hot flashes can occur in women due to a decrease in estrogen and progesterone.  Some cancer treatments including radiation, chemotherapy, endocrine therapy (such as Tamoxifen), or surgeries to remove reproductive organs may place women into a menopausal state.   

• Similarly, men who have prostate cancer and undergo testicular surgery or who take hormone therapy such as estrogen or gonadotropin releasing hormone may experience hot flashes. 

• The presence of hot flashes in breast cancer survivors documented in literature is 45-52%*.

• Those reporting hot flashes are also more likely to report sleep disturbances, psychological dysfunction, and higher pain severity than those who do not report hot flashes*.   

• If you suffer from hot flashes, or related side effects we are here to help you better understand the reasoning behind this side effect and ways to manage these for a more fulfilling life. 

Common causes  

• Hormone Therapy (either hormone depletion or replacement) 

• Chemotherapy  

• Surgery to remove reproductive organs  

• Menopause 

• Radiation 

• Some non-cancer medications such as steroids, opioids, or antidepressants

Management 

• Continue to take all medications as prescribed 

• Talk to your oncologist or PCP before trying over the counter medicine, herbs, or homeopathic remedies that you think may help 

• Keep a log of hot flash episodes (time, duration, and contributing factors) 

• If your hot flashes are from fevers, communicate with your oncology team for management as fever for patients in active treatment can be concerning  

• If excessive sweating is occurring change clothes and bed linens as frequently as possible 

• Practice good skin hygiene by bathing/showering daily and moisturizing 

• Increase oral hydration to replace fluid lost through sweat

• Most Importantly communicate with your oncologist, medical team, and Iris Care Team if symptoms are ongoing and adversely effecting your quality of life so that they can help make further recommendations

Suggestions 

Here are some tips for managing hot flashes without the use of medications or pharmaceutical intervention: 

• Address any contributing factors or triggers 

  • Spicy foods or hot beverages 

  • Caffeine 

  • Alcohol 

  • Non-breathable or restrictive clothing 

• Consider dressing in layers- cotton or quick dry materials

• Keep sleeping area cool at night

• Maintain a healthy weight 

• Increase physical activity 

• Consider use of acupuncture, yoga, or cognitive behavioral therapy 

Questions to ask your oncologist… 

• Are there any medications that may be helpful in making my hot flashes more manageable? Examples of frequently utilized medications for severe hot flashes include Gabapentin and Venlafaxine (SSRI)**.  

• Is there any thing else you would recommend to make my hot flashes more tolerable?

Call your cancer care team if… 

• You are concerned about dehydration due to excessive sweating episodes 

• You have a fever of 100.4 or higher than the level they have instructed you to monitor for. 

• Your hot flashes are causing emotional distress and you feel you could benefit from meeting with a mental health counselor.