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The experience of hot flushes after breast cancer

The experience of hot flushes after breast cancer
The experience of hot flushes after breast cancer
As survival from breast cancer increases, there is a corresponding rise in the number of women living with the long-term consequences of its treatment. Distressing menopausal hot flushes occur in many of these women. This article reports on interviews conducted with 8 women, exploring the experience of hot flushes after breast cancer. Women's accounts of hot flushes varied from being a mild sensation to an intensely unpleasant sensation affecting the whole body and accompanied by drenching perspiration. Flushes affected all aspects of the women's lives, including sleeping, clothing, social situations, intimate relationships, and ability to work. Emotionally, women talked about being out of control. Having cancer and menopause simultaneously made it more difficult for the women to cope, and cancer treatment could cause flushing. The women used many strategies to help relieve their difficulties. Some resorted to hormone replacement therapy, whereas others turned to herbal medications and other alternative interventions such as acupuncture. Most women adopted behavioral strategies to try to regain control. Ultimately, they found that control was gained by attitude of mind. Cognitive behavioral techniques may enhance the sense of control and contribute to coping during hot flushes
breast cancer, hot flushes, menopause
0162-220X
E19-E26
Fenlon, D.R.
52f9a9f1-1643-449c-9856-258ef563342c
Rogers, A.E.
c6688bec-eca9-4c98-b6ac-2189f0d5290f
Fenlon, D.R.
52f9a9f1-1643-449c-9856-258ef563342c
Rogers, A.E.
c6688bec-eca9-4c98-b6ac-2189f0d5290f

Fenlon, D.R. and Rogers, A.E. (2007) The experience of hot flushes after breast cancer. Cancer Nursing, 30 (4), E19-E26. (doi:10.1097/01.NCC.0000281731.95113.a3).

Record type: Article

Abstract

As survival from breast cancer increases, there is a corresponding rise in the number of women living with the long-term consequences of its treatment. Distressing menopausal hot flushes occur in many of these women. This article reports on interviews conducted with 8 women, exploring the experience of hot flushes after breast cancer. Women's accounts of hot flushes varied from being a mild sensation to an intensely unpleasant sensation affecting the whole body and accompanied by drenching perspiration. Flushes affected all aspects of the women's lives, including sleeping, clothing, social situations, intimate relationships, and ability to work. Emotionally, women talked about being out of control. Having cancer and menopause simultaneously made it more difficult for the women to cope, and cancer treatment could cause flushing. The women used many strategies to help relieve their difficulties. Some resorted to hormone replacement therapy, whereas others turned to herbal medications and other alternative interventions such as acupuncture. Most women adopted behavioral strategies to try to regain control. Ultimately, they found that control was gained by attitude of mind. Cognitive behavioral techniques may enhance the sense of control and contribute to coping during hot flushes

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Published date: July 2007
Keywords: breast cancer, hot flushes, menopause

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 154111
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/154111
ISSN: 0162-220X
PURE UUID: a2d4b9ef-3371-4a87-a568-ca5ece2d19af

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Date deposited: 09 Jun 2010 11:12
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 01:33

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Contributors

Author: D.R. Fenlon
Author: A.E. Rogers

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