Hot flash sufferers/tamoxifen
 

ABSTRACT: Tamoxifen, hot flashes and recurrence in breast cancer [Breast Cancer Research and Treatment]

We utilized data from the comparison group of the Women's Healthy Eating and Living randomized trial to investigate an "a priori" hypothesis suggested by CYP2D6 studies that hot flashes may be an independent predictor of tamoxifen efficacy. A total of 1551 women with early stage breast cancer were enrolled and randomized to the comparison group of the WHEL multi-institutional trial between 1995 and 2000. Their primary breast cancer diagnoses were between 1991 and 2000. At study entry, 864 (56%) of these women were taking tamoxifen, and hot flashes were reported by 674 (78%). After 7.3 years of follow-up, 127 of those who took tamoxifen at baseline had a confirmed breast cancer recurrence. Women who reported hot flashes at baseline were less likely to develop recurrent breast cancer than those who did not report hot flashes (12.9% vs 21%, P = 0.01). Hot flashes were a stronger predictor of breast cancer specific outcome than age, hormone receptor status, or even the difference in the stage of the cancer at diagnosis (Stage I versus Stage II). These findings suggest an association between side effects, efficacy, and tamoxifen metabolism. The strength of this finding suggests that further study of the relationship between hot flashes and breast cancer progression is warranted. Additional work is warranted to clarify the mechanism of hot flashes in this setting.

I was on tamoxifen for 5 yrs after my second occurrance of DCIS in 1999. I experienced some perimenopause type symptoms while on Tamoxifen, but I never experienced a single hot flash in my life.

That's good to know because I had night sweats on Tamoxifen and I have night sweats on Arimidex (would just be hot flashes if I took the drug in the morning but I take it at night to try to avoid some flashing). Of course I have a horrific flash right when I don't want one - like right before a presentation or something. At least I know flashing is a good thing!

Beckie, I don't even get any hot flashes with Arimadex. Darn, now I wish I got hot flashes like everyone else I know.....

Beckie, great words from Christopher Robin to Pooh.
Off to yoga now.....Aloha!!!
harriecanarie...

My hot flashes are horrible, but was hormone negative. I've tried some other things and nothing worked so I figure I just have to deal with them till they go away. My cholesterol meds made them worse once I started taking it.

Thanks for posting this Harrie. (love your new avatar BTW!).
I started experiencing hot flashes and major night sweats almost immediately after I started taking Tamoxifen. I started Effexor 75gm. about 3 months later to combat both the "heat" and anxiety - worked like a charm for both.

Nice to know that my chance of recurrence may be less because of the flashes.

all the best
caya

Hello,

I am not in the hormone receptor positive group HOWEVER I am in the hot flash club.http://www.her2support.org/vbulletin...cons/icon7.gif I had MAJOR hot flashes while on chemo - like every 15 minutes 24/7 and I'm NOT kidding. It was horrid. After taxol ended so did the flashes and they've been gone till just recently again. The last 2 or 3 months they are back. Not horrid - just the "normal" pain in the butt kind that all women experience. Horrid enough BUT that's ok. The sooner they begin the sooner it can all end - I hope.

Interesting post Maryann,

Mary Jo

Thanks for starting this thread Harrie. I am 54 and premenopausal. I have been taking tamoxifen for almost two years now. I have not experienced unbearable hot flashes, but do have "warm moments". I am beginning to wonder (and worry) if I am in the group of poor metabolizers. I just saw my onc last Friday and she is checking my FSH levels again to see where I am. I have been experiencing more frequent "warm moments", but not more severe. I have pretty much decided that if I am not menopausal yet I am going to opt to push myself there. I just have to decide which method to use and what AI to take. With the recent news about Femara I was thinking that might be a good choice. Any suggestions?

All my best,

I've not had hot flashes, but I'm guessing (and hoping) its because I'm male.LOL

You are so lucky Doug. Bout the best way to explain mine is the feeling of a sunburn amplified. And they hit at some of the most inoportune time.

great thread
 

i was thinking about asking for some help fr everyone. I have been having hot flashes at night so frequent that i'm not sleeping they wake me from my sleep. I'm never soaking or anything just hot...then throw off the covers only to be freezing later...just to fall asleep...just to be awakened again...so i have been taking my tamoxifen in the morning. Does this make sense to be flashing at night. Should i switch to taking it in the early evening? Back to sleeping pill...i'm bagged !!
Any advice?
thankyou, suzanne

I started experiencing terrible hot flashes with Tomixifen, then I started working on with aerobics for 45 minutes a day (elipitical, treadmill and bike) - my hot flashes totally went away. The interesting part is I finished radiation last week and I have terrible burns from it. It was to painful to exercise for 4 days and my hot flashes came back. It appears that exercise helps control those hot flashes.

I hope my exercising isn't created bad voodoo - who would think the hot flashes would be a good thing.

Goops,
Hey....maybe THAT is why I didn't get any hot flashes!! I am an exercise fanatic! So if I did not exercise as much I might have gotten the hot flashes also. I don't think that means the exercising created a jinx on the theraputics of tamox.
maryanne

That very well could be because the hot flashes stopped quickly after I started to exercise, perhaps exercise helps control surges in hormones.

I know there are studies that show people who exercise have a less likely chance of re-occurrence.

Thanks Gooops,
I appreciate hearing you say that. At first when I read the article, I thought to myself..."oh no....."
what you said makes sense.
Maryanne