Hot Flashes

I was treated for breast cancer about 4 years ago, i had a double mastectomy.  I had terrible hot flashes after the chemo treatment.  My doctor prescribed Effexor for the hot flashes, which did reduce them.  I also was on tomoxifen for the first few years which they now switched to arimidex.  I have been taken off the Effexor.  My hot flashes are now back, they are not as bad as they used to be after the chemo.  I am wondering if i can change my diet, and take any natural herbs to help reduce them.  I do not want back on the Effexor, but i do want to reduce the hot flashes.  Since my cancer was a estrogen feeder, i am concerned that i do take something that will actual increase my changes of reoccurance.  I do believe in alternative medicine and that lifestyle changes can dramatically change my health.  Are you will to suggest any form of alternative medicine to reduce my hot flashes?

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  If you want to take any herbal treatment for the hot flashes, just make sure that you check the ingredients for any component which has estrogen-like hormonal effects.  If you want to make sure you're not going to take in any potentially harmful substance, you can try acupuncture.  Some studies (non-randomized trials) have shown that a seven week treatment with acupuncture reduces the severity of hot flashes by 28% versus a reduction of only 9% for those treated with sham acupuncture.  There is also a reduction in frequency of symptoms per day, and the effects seem to be persistent until six months after treatment was completed.