Breast cancer and flushes

Hi Julie, although I’m a little younger than you (64) I too had been on HRT for a number of years to help with menopause symptoms. I tried to come off it very gradually during the pandemic but after a few months felt so awful with flushes keeping me awake at night that I went back on it . Following a routine mammogram at the end of last year I was diagnosed with breast cancer, albeit early stage, but was told I had to immediately stop HRT by the consultant as I was hormone receptor positive. needless to say the hot flushes and night sweats kicked in with a vengeance . After having a lumpectomy and node removal in January  I was put on the hormone suppressant Letrozole which I have to take for the next 10 years but which Ive been finding are making the hot flushes and sweats even worse not to mention mood swings and general anxiety . I try to follow all the good advice such as using fans night and day,  cooling pillows , and I do Pilates, eat sensibly etc   but like you I dread how long these flushes will go on for as they are so debilitating. Having reached a point of desperation I actually saw my GP yesterday who was very understanding. Although I didn’t want to go down the route of more drugs she has prescribed me a mild anti depressant called Citalopram which apparently can help alleviate hot flushes and are given in a lower dose than they would be for anxiety etc, I have decided o give them a go even if just to get me through the next few months while my body adjusts to the hormone therapy. I hope this is of some help but having gone cold turkey with HRT I can totally sympathise with how you must be feeling, I do hope all your treatment goes well and you can find some relief too for the hot flushes Xx

I have a different story from yours - I'm mid-40s, was pre-menopausal when I was diagnosed and so was put into a sudden menopause with zoladex implants to stop my ovaries working. This was also during chemo, which made everything more intense. Exemestane was added later and I'm now on these for 5 years.

My flushes were intense - an anxiety/panicky feeling with them and hot flush every 20 mins day and night until I was through chemo and then they gradually eased. I'd say about 6 months later, the anxiety that came with them started to ease, and they were significantly reduced in frequency - maybe one every 1 - 3 hours.

They are now very manageable - 14 months after I started the hormone therapy, but I now feel like I have reached a plateau. The night sweats wake me and keep me awake at night so I don't sleep well. During the day I seem to be able to cope with the flush by taking a layer off and getting cool but at night, I throw the covers off, then get freeing, then put the bed covers on and I have another hot flush. I can't seem to regulate my night temperature and I can be awake for hours. I have chillows which really do help and at this time of year, the bedroom is lovely and cool.

I tried a low dose beta blocker for a few weeks from my GP, but I hated the side effects so came off it.

There were a few success stories of acupuncture on here so I have just started that. It apparently has a really good success rate for menopausal symptoms but can take 4 - 6 sessions to notice a difference and you may need top ups every month or so, although for some women the initial sessions are all they need. I actually noticed a difference after my first session, which I wasn't expecting - I had a couple of nights with minimal night sweats (and it wasn't straight after the acupuncture) and then they came back again so I am hopeful that it is going to work for me with more sessions.

I'm reluctant to take even more pills and the side effects tend to be to dull all your senses, so I'm trying this route. I have to pay for it privately but I think some places offer it for free (Maggie's might?)