Hot flushes are a side effect of many hormonal treatments for breast cancer and are common during menopause.
Hot flushes may come and go and are not always severe. The duration of hot flushes also varies between women. Some women may experience hot flushes for many years.
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What helps ?
Although we don’t know how to stop hot flushes, there are some things you can do to help manage the symptoms:
- wear natural fibres like cotton which absorb sweat
- dress in layers, so that it’s easy to take off an item of clothing when you experience a hot flush
- reduce your intake of caffeine, alcohol, hot drinks and spicy foods
- keep a small fan in your work area and drink cold water to cool you down
- keep a note of when you experience hot flushes and what you’re doing when they occur; this may help you identify the ‘triggers’ that cause your flushes and help you find ways to avoid them
- consider yoga, meditation or relaxation techniques
- consider other lifestyle strategies, such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, and not smoking.
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Staying cool in bed?
- keep cold water by your bed ready to drink at the first sign of a sweat
- use cotton sheets and cotton nightclothes
- sleep under layers, so you can easily remove extra bed covers
- have a small fan running to keep the air moving while you sleep.
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If you think you would find it helpful to share your experiences with other women, you may like to join a support group. Meetings can be face-to-face or held over the telephone or internet.
