Women who are treated for breast cancer often take medications that cause the abrupt onset of menopause. The sudden change can cause very intense hot flashes.

In one study, nearly 90 percent of breast cancer survivors report having severe hot flashes. The symptoms are often associated with weakness, faintness, rapid heartbeat, itching, headaches, dizziness, irritability and anxiety. These hot flashes can greatly interfere with daily activities, sleep and overall quality of life.

Menopause is the cessation of menstrual periods due to reduced levels of the hormones, estrogen and progestin. Natural production of these hormones declines gradually. During the transition, a woman may experience irregular menstrual cycles. Menopause officially occurs when a woman has not had a menstrual period for one year.

In the U.S., natural menopause typically occurs between 45 and 55. Smokers and those who are very thin may go through menopause at a slightly younger age. Women who have had children or used oral contraceptives tend to go through menopause at a slightly older age. Menopause can occur earlier in life if the ovaries are surgically removed.

Menopause and Hot Flashes

Hormonal fluctuations associated with the menopause transition can trigger several kinds of problems. One of the most common symptoms related to menopause is hot flashes (also called hot flushes). Researchers estimate 75 to 85 percent of women experience hot flashes as they approach menopause. They are characterized by a sudden feeling of warmth that spreads through the upper body and face. The skin may appear red and the body may suddenly break out in a sweat. As the hot flash subsides, the skin may become clammy and the woman may feel cold. Some women also experience anxiety and heart palpitations during a hot flash.

Symptoms of a hot flash last from several seconds to several minutes and can occur at any time - even awakening a woman from sleep. About one-third of women with hot flashes have more than 10 episodes a day.

Traditionally, doctors recommended hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to alleviate hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. However, researchers have recently found HRT may increase the risk of heart attack, breast cancer, blood clots and stroke. So, breast cancer survivors may particularly need to avoid HRT.

Researchers at the Scott and White Clinic and Hospital are now testing the use of hypnosis as a therapy for alleviating hot flashes in breast cancer survivors. Study participants receive five sessions of individual instruction for self-hypnosis. The woman is seated in a comfortable chair and asked to concentrate and focus on cooling images (such as a skiing vacation, walking in the cool air of the mountains or feeling the breezes from a cool lake). Participants are given an audiotape of the session and encouraged to practice using the imagery at home every day. Ideally, when a hot flash begins to occur, patients will be able to use the imagery to relieve the symptoms.

In a pilot study of 16 breast cancer survivors, researchers found self-hypnosis decreased the frequency of hot flashes by 58 percent and the severity by 76 percent . Investigators say the techniques may also be useful for women who are entering natural menopause as well.

SOURCES

North American Menopause Society, http://www.menopause.org