Scientists reduce breast cancer-linked hot flushes

Scientists say they have found a way of reducing the hot flushes and sleep deprivation associated with breast cancer drugs.

Hot flushes are a frequent and serious side-effect of drug treatments for breast cancer, disrupting sleep and causing fatigue and irritability during the day.

In survivors of breast cancer taking anti-oestrogen medications hot flushes can sometimes even contribute to cancer reoccurrence by discouraging people from continuing with their medication.

US researchers report today that they have found a potential way of continuing with medication while reducing the side effects.

They say injecting stellate-ganglion block into the nerves of the neck that regulate temperature could provide patients with long-term relief from hot flushes and sleep deprivation.

The researchers studied 13 survivors of breast cancer with severe hot flushes.

Hot flushes and sleep disturbances were recorded one week before the trial and then at weekly intervals for three months.

Writing in the journal Lancet Oncology, the scientists say the total number of hot flushes decreased from a mean of 79.4 per person per week before the procedure to a mean of 49.9 during the first two weeks after the injection.

This number continued to decrease in weeks three to 12 and stabilised at about 8.1 hot flushes per person per week.

The number of very severe hot flushes decreased to almost zero by the end of week 12.

Sleep disturbances reduced from 19.5 per person per week before the procedure to 1.4 afterwards.

“The findings of this study suggest that stellate-ganglion block can provide survivors of breast cancer with long-term relief from hot flushes and sleep dysfunction with few or no side-effects,” the study’s authors conclude.

“Long-term relief of symptoms has the potential to improve overall quality of life and increase compliance with antioestrogen medications for breast cancer.”