Sometime in the last few days, I think that I read something about chemo bringing back hot flushes but as I have been in the fog, I can't quite remember. I have only recently gone through natural menopause, officially finishing just around the bc diagnosis at Christmas. During that time, I never had the classic hot flushes but would get "night sweats". I'm currently on the 3rd cycle of AC chemo and during the last couple of days I have been experiencing daytime hot flushes for the first time. Has anyone else experienced this, or did I imagine the post? And has anyone any idea about what is going on?I should mention that my temp is normal so not a fever.

Picked up this handy gadget for my phone in Dymocks today!

@Sister...Funny enough you should write this post now. I was just thinking in the wee hours about this. I went through menopause very early. I had had a hysterectomy when I was in my late twenties, so was obviously not menstruating. Shortly thereafter, I had one ovary out. All due to severe endometriosis and prolapse. At age 38 it was discovered that I was post menopausal. I had had no symptoms of hot flushes and so on, it just turned up in a routine blood test when we came to Australia and I sought out a GP to care for our family. Flash forward about twenty years later, I had been complaining to my doctor about night sweats, along with other problems too numerous to mention. Eventually I was diagnosed with a trio of autoimmune diseases, and in the process of all the tests to establish the internal involvement, the breast cancer was found on a CT scan. The night sweats were about two a night at this stage, but drenching. During AC chemo...a total nightmare, I might add, 56 days in hospital, including the original 18 days on my first admission when the cancer was found, the night sweats were joined by daytime ones as well. Up to a dozen times per 24 hours. There was great discussion between my various "ologists" as to the cause. A process called apoptosis was eventually the winner. Rapid apoptosis, which is the destruction of cells at a far more rapid rate than the normal occurs during chemo. The good guys and the bad (and the ugly). As each cell is obliterated the apoptosis (I love the POP part of the word, it gave me a word picture of the cancer cells exploding), released all sorts of toxins into the system which can cause all sorts of symptoms. Just to mention that I now have only the occasional night sweat and even then, only when it has been actually hot, and I put this down to a faulty thermostat now. I swing between been over hot to chilly and back again at the drop of a hat. I have also been on letrozole for nine months now.

Yes I had horrod hot flushes during chemo. Have completely settled and niw just have the odd post menopause hot flush and being hot at night.

Wasn't in menopause before chemo. Slammed straight into it from my third taxol cycle. Hot flushes started right away and hit me between every 8 to 20 minutes for nine months. The lack of sleep I experienced because of them put me in to depression. Then gradually over a year I learnt to live with them and they became less frequent to around 30 minutes to an hour. Then last month I mentioned to hubby how good they have been maybe 8 a day total. Except NOW for the past 5 days I am back to them every 20 minutes. Don't know why they have come back like this, but bloody well wish they will bugger off again. Now off to work after an hour of sleep last night <Sigh>

Hi @kmakm . No not more worried or stressed than normal. No alcohol. Cut out caffeine, citrus and spicy food.Can't think what has caused them to flare up again. I was referred to a psychologist when they first got really bad in the past and I wasn't coping. This pyschologist only sees cancer patients. She told me that it's normal for intense hot flushes come and go for years after chemo! She also said that in her experience women who had very heavy periods and / or high estrogen before chemo seem to have a harder time when it comes to hot flushes after taxol. Definitely not enough research in this area. My issue is that when I get them so frequently I can't fall or stay asleep. If I go without sufficient sleep for weeks I tend to slip into both a physical and psychological depression. I'll take a sleeping tablet tonight to see if I can get some decent rest tonight before my body becomes too sleep deprived.On the upside, they definitely DID GET BETTER for some months. So if that happened once it can happen again. I just have to stay sane and well while I go through this latest flare up and I hope it will be weeks not months until they dissipate again.Good luck

Chemo and Hot Flushes | BCNA Online Network

32 Replies

kmakm
Member
8 years ago
@MoiraC Ooh, nice idea! But it's really small so I don't think I can justify that! Had a bit of a spree at the sales in Sorrento last week... :)
MoiraC
Member
8 years ago
@kmakm- LOL -very good . Now you might need a new handbag to fit it in? Not that excuses are needed I reckon!
kmakm
Member
8 years ago
Picked up this handy gadget for my phone in Dymocks today!
SoldierCrab
Member
8 years ago
they also have these https://www.catch.com.au/product/chill-out-90-x-60cm-cooling-mat-for-mattress-340237/?st=18
SoldierCrab
Member
8 years ago
this just came in my email from catch of the day .....
https://www.catch.com.au/event/chillow-soothing-cooling-pad-74328/product/chillow-soothing-cooling-pad-blue-417279/?e=club-catch&sc_src=email_813885&sc_lid=55100894&sc_uid=9O1DMdjT7G&sc_llid=39148&sc_eh=1064d442f8b8a4701&utm_source=clubcatch_cotd&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=clubcatch_20180414&utm_content=solus&st=1&sid=74328
tigerbeth
Member
8 years ago
Just read about these
https://chillytowel.com.au/collections/all
Could be a help for some !
I haven't needed or tried them yet !
Hope it helps
kmakm
Member
8 years ago
Thank you for explaining. And good on you for the sleeping.
Sister
Member
8 years ago
And as for the 4th cycle, so far feeling a little bit sick but have slept almost all of it.
Sister
Member
8 years ago
Apparently, even when you've gone through menopause the ovaries are still trying to do there thing a bit even if it's not noticeable. Chemo knocks them out completely (and when they're that low, never to return). So the flushes are the dying throes of the ovaries.
kmakm
Member
8 years ago
"...it's just the last of the ovarian function shutting down..."

Hi @Sister, when you're able could you clarify what your oncologist was referring to? Thank you. Hope the fourth cycle is treating you OK. K xox