I was diagnosed with DCIS In-Situ in January, 08. I had a surgery to remove the tumor followed up with Mama-Site Radiation. I have been taking Tamoxifen now for 3 months and the hot flashes followed by the cold flashes are unbearable at times. I am already taking Effexor (150mg) that is what the doctor said he usually prescribes to combat the hot flashes. I realize that I am very fortunate that my cancer was found early and is non-invasive. I do feel like I'm being petty over this compared to those who have invasive breast cancers. Any suggestions other than to quit whinning...
Just Diagnosed with Cancer? Chat with ExpertsSponsored Offer
- Resources
Q: Any suggestions for combating the hot/cold flashes resulting from the Tamoxifen?
Answers (2)
5/17/08 2:57pm
Kathy, whining is JUST FINE—call it "venting"! That's what this site is for (among many other things). Unfortunately, there's no sure-fire cure for hot flashes other than hormone relacement therapy, which is pretty much out for you (since I'm assuming you have ER/PR-receptive cancer). I've found that caffeine and alcohol both play a role in hot flashes, at least for me - so watch your intake of both of those, and see if your hot flashes are related. Also, a new treatment is just barely being shown effective, but nowhere near being rolled out to a large audience yet - nerve blocks to the nerve center that controls your body temperature. Stay tuned on that one. And in the meantime, DCIS is cancer just as much as any other kind - it's the "I have cancer" kick in the gut that makes us all sisters, not the treatment you go through. Here's a piece on "cancer competition" you might enjoy. good luck with those flashes! - PJH
4/28/11 6:17am
I'm sorry you're having such a hard time with tamoxifen. It's bad enough dealing with cancer - having to take drugs to counteract the effects of drugs you need for treatment is just simply aggravating. Please read our post on tamoxifen/antidepressants (such as Effexor); given Effexor is one of the antidepressants with the least negative effect on tamoxifen, you might reconsider it. Sometimes, when drug side effects are tough enough that they interfere with your day-to-day life, it's worth weighing your perhaps slightly increased chance of recurrence against the good that the offending drug (Effexor) was doing you. Take care- PJH
5/17/08 12:49pm
You could try Vitamin E (have herad that works for some, me not so much - but I think the Lousiana heat & humidity plays a big part in that)
Or you might be able to ask your your Dr to rx some Cattapress (?) Patches - they are for lowering blood pressure, but they worked for me for a while - been meaning to ask for more.
Unfortunately the meds you take don't help much (I used to take Effexor and it's one of those drugs that make you tired or fatigued, more suspectable to weight gain, and works with other meds to torture you with hot flashes!) I have resorted to wearing tank tops to bed, since most often the worst hot flashes happen during sleep - and it has helped a bit. I also shower lukewarm now (especially if efter spending time outside and am hot) Try wearing your hair up of you can as I know the back of my neck is a problem area for me - and I also always carry a bandana with me so I can wipe away the sweat or wet it and use to cool me off.
Wish I had better advice. Hot flashes are no fun!
Stay cool = )
Angi
Important:
We hope you find this general health information helpful. Please note however, that this Q&A is meant to support not replace the professional medical advice you receive from your doctor. No information in the Answers above is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The views expressed in the Answers above belong to the individuals who posted them and do not necessarily reflect the views of The HealthCentral Network. The HealthCentral Network does not review or edit content posted by our community members, but reserves the right to remove any material it deems inappropriate.
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hi,
I suspect you have long gone past this post, but I would truly like to say thank you because I have been wondering for months now (not knowing other breast cancer survivors) about the cold chills I have been having. I have never been cold before. In the last two weeks I have started to refer to these episodes as cold flashes. You get plenty of warning about hot flashes, but no one had ever mentioned the cold version to me. Then my sister in law asked if I had done any research about it. Low and behold I found this post. So I gather my hunch about it being hormone fluctuations was in the ball park. My chemo doc had taken me off Effexor, saying there were indications it interfered with Tamoxifen. Put me on Venlafaxine, which is just an awful drug if you ask me. Didn't help with the hot flashes or cold for that matter and when I got stomach bug and didn't take for two days I had a horrible reaction - racing heart and shooting hot pain in brain. ugh. Glad to be off that. But wish I could be back on the Effexor. It worked. Oh yeah, and I agree, it is just venting. Cancer is cancer and not a competition.