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

MoiraC
Member
8 years ago
@Sister -yeah -our brain keeps trying to get oestregen for a long time even when menopause is passed or chemo !
MoiraC
Member
8 years ago
@kmakm - early days yet but I feel so much better having a longer uninterrupted sleep - see how it goes
Sister
Member
8 years ago
Onc reckons it's just the last of the ovarian function shutting down even though I had thought I was through menopause before this.
kmakm
Member
8 years ago
@MoiraC Thank you for that. I have been wondering about those mats. If mine go on with their current ferocity for much longer I will get one.
MoiraC
Member
8 years ago
Hi sister hot flashers - I too have been struggling in this sweaty world from chemo. Just lately I am doing acupuncture and I know some are sceptical - but I have noticed a reduction in frequency and length. Also this week just got a cool gel mat for my bed which lowers my night time temp ( despite open windows and fan) I have to say I am waking less and am vaguely aware of being hot once or twice a night but have been able to sleep uninterrupted for 6 hours. Previously I was waking in a lather every few hours-having a pee and a glass of water and then sleeping again. But this week -cooler and longer sleeps and the weather has remained hot at night. Maybe of use to others?
kezmusc
Member
8 years ago
Hey @Nadi

I was pre menopausal before chemo (45) with everything ticking along like clockwork. No sign of it at all. The second round of AC stopped everything in its tracks. 30 to 40 hot flushes a day to the point of nausea, dizziness and nights sweats as well. I had to have a fan on my desk at work even with the air con on freezing. I remember trying to put make up on at 5am and it just running off again. My ER PR status were both at 90%. By the time I finished taxol the flushes had backed of to about 20 a day and not quite as intense. Not sure if it was coincidence or not but I had begun taking a truck load of vitamin B3, B6 and C as recommended by another BC lady who had found it helped.

Are you on any hormone therapy? The reason I ask is that I got so fed up with everything (I had numerous side effects as well as the flushes) I quit taking tamoxifen for a few weeks. Bingo about 2 1/2 weeks off it they stopped. I mean dead in its tracks. I went back on Tamoxifen and it has remained the same for the last 3 months. I still occasionally get a little warm but its almost negligible and only lasts about 1minute.
XOXOXOX
kmakm
Member
8 years ago
@Afraser I will ask mine. Thank you.
Afraser
Member
8 years ago
My oncologist told me so! I assume one of my endless tests had that result - also why hormonal therapy was strongly recommended. And hence vaginal atrophy - but that's another story!
kmakm
Member
8 years ago
Oh I'm glad you got a six hour chunk of sleep @Nadi. I'd love six hours straight! Hope today is a good one.
kmakm
Member
8 years ago
@Afraser How do you know if you have high oestrogen?

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Chemo and Hot Flushes

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