Hot flashes were found to be a significant problem among women post-treatment for breast cancer, according to a study by a team of University of Kentucky College of Medicine researchers. Hot flashes are caused by natural aging, chemotherapy-induced ovarian failure, and may be intensified by chemotherapy and the antiestrogen, Tamoxifen.
Hot flashes are a common symptom of menopause in aging women.
Studies have suggested that up to 93 percent of postmenopausal women experience hot flashes, sensations of heat and anxiety. The findings in the UK study suggest that options for managing hot flashes in women with breast cancer are limited. The hot flashes are a problem for these women, and they tend to be using unproven remedies. Hot flashes were reported by 65 percent of postmenopausal women with breast cancer. Almost half of those women reported their symptoms as severe.