CancerCompass message board discussion started by sweatylady on 7/9/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25847,0.htm Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hi, i am 49 was diagnosed with breast cancer on Novemer of 2006. I am now cancer free Thankfully. My treatment was 6 months of chemo and then was put on tamoxifen. 10mg of tamoxifen in the morning and 10mg at night. I am expieriencing TERRIBLE hot flashes. So much so that water comes out of my nose at night and wake up drenched. I complained to my doctor and he then put me on Tramadol. I did some research on his drug and it seem to do the opposite of tamoxifen.Anyone else going through this as well ?????    sweatylady Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hello sweaty lady,I have multiple myeloma and the severe hot flushes are a common symptom for many people with MM.  We do not know if it is the various medications that we are using or whether it is a factor of cancer in general.  The hot flushes seem to affect both men and women and are often symbolised by excessive sweating from the head -- a bit like a having a sprinkler operating just above the crown of ones head causing the water to run down in driplets like drops of rain!  This seems to be worse in warmer weather, when the person is in a stressful situation, and happens both day and night in huge amounts.  No one has a solution, but it would be nice to just 'know' if it is a general symptom of cancer in general.  I personally carry a dry wash cloth to use as a mini towel to wipe my constantly dripping head!!  Most people think that I have been caught in a rain shower because my hair gets so wet!!  Good luck in sorting this out -- if you hear of a solution please let me know.  Best wishes, Cath poppy/cath Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT I had to tear off my HRT patch after my dx and OMG the hot flashes were brutal.  Along with the withdrawal from the general well being of estrogen in my system, I might add.  Tried Tamoxifen, Evista and now Femera.  A year and two months later, hot flashes have gone from one every 20 minutes to one every hour.  I will retry Femara one more time; I had to quit it for a time as my job performance suffered to the point it was noticeable :(... I have noticed taking in plenty of fluid (water, jello, melons) seems to decrease the intensity of the Hot Flashes noticeably.  And when I am dehydrated (drank too much coffee is more like it), the hot flashes are more debilitating (in that I sit up, say "WTH????", then "oh, a hot flash" then tingling, the heat, the abundant perspiration (and my standing in front of the nearest fan or freezer) and then finally, the end of it, feeling like I had been hit in the head by a 2 x 4, every 20 minutes.  Sleeping was a feat, I felt sleep med addiction was preferable to my walking around like an ill-kempt, sleep-deprived aging woman for a while.Keeping busy also helps :) and keeping a sense of humor or rather a sense of the ridiculous.  I have so many things to do and now they don't even matter anymore.  Who'd've thunk it would turn out like this. Bunnyswanson Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 7/9/2008 sweatylady wrote:Hi, i am 49 was diagnosed with breast cancer on Novemer of 2006. I am now cancer free Thankfully. My treatment was 6 months of chemo and then was put on tamoxifen. 10mg of tamoxifen in the morning and 10mg at night. I am expieriencing TERRIBLE hot flashes. So much so that water comes out of my nose at night and wake up drenched. I complained to my doctor and he then put me on Tramadol. I did some research on his drug and it seem to do the opposite of tamoxifen.Anyone else going through this as well ?????   Hi I go for my 7th year annual check up on the31st July  I wont go into my history but did 3years Tamx  and 2yrs Arimadex I did suffer a selection of side effects joint pain etc., but the one thing that was a major problem was swims not sweats, the only thing that took the edge of for me was Megastrol prescription only, tried 6wks off justabout 2months ago was glad to get back on them they take about a month to make a difference   Lady Rumpers Ladyrumpers Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 7/9/2008 sweatylady wrote:Hi, i am 49 was diagnosed with breast cancer on Novemer of 2006. I am now cancer free Thankfully. My treatment was 6 months of chemo and then was put on tamoxifen. 10mg of tamoxifen in the morning and 10mg at night. I am expieriencing TERRIBLE hot flashes. So much so that water comes out of my nose at night and wake up drenched. I complained to my doctor and he then put me on Tramadol. I did some research on his drug and it seem to do the opposite of tamoxifen.Anyone else going through this as well ?????   Hi I go for my 7th year annual check up on the31st July  I wont go into my history but did 3years Tamx  and 2yrs Arimadex I did suffer a selection of side effects joint pain etc., but the one thing that was a major problem was swims not sweats, the only thing that took the edge of for me was Megastrol prescription only, tried 6wks off justabout 2months ago was glad to get back on them they take about a month to make a difference   Lady Rumpers Ladyrumpers Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 7/9/2008 Bunnyswanson wrote:I had to tear off my HRT patch after my dx and OMG the hot flashes were brutal.  Along with the withdrawal from the general well being of estrogen in my system, I might add.  Tried Tamoxifen, Evista and now Femera.  A year and two months later, hot flashes have gone from one every 20 minutes to one every hour.  I will retry Femara one more time; I had to quit it for a time as my job performance suffered to the point it was noticeable :(... I have noticed taking in plenty of fluid (water, jello, melons) seems to decrease the intensity of the Hot Flashes noticeably.  And when I am dehydrated (drank too much coffee is more like it), the hot flashes are more debilitating (in that I sit up, say "WTH????", then "oh, a hot flash" then tingling, the heat, the abundant perspiration (and my standing in front of the nearest fan or freezer) and then finally, the end of it, feeling like I had been hit in the head by a 2 x 4, every 20 minutes.  Sleeping was a feat, I felt sleep med addiction was preferable to my walking around like an ill-kempt, sleep-deprived aging woman for a while.Keeping busy also helps :) and keeping a sense of humor or rather a sense of the ridiculous.  I have so many things to do and now they don't even matter anymore.  Who'd've thunk it would turn out like this.I had breast cancer in 1998 and took the chemo for 4 cycles and 36 radiation treatments. I had turned 40 that year. I took Tamoxifin for 5 years and never had one side effect. When I turned 50 this year I have severe hot flashes. My Dad was dignosed with stage 4 lung cancer and died 8 weeks later and my husband was dignosed with stage 4 lung cancer one month before and his already spread to the other lung, liver and lymph nodes. I think the stress of all this started my hot flashes and I have them all day and night. I may sleep 2 hours a night total. I am not on hormones. I know what you are going thru and I wish I could have some good advice. I exercise alot. I go to spin class for 1 hr. at 5am, 3 mornings a week and I go to 3 hrs. of exercise on Tues and Thurs evening and I walk everyday for 30-1 hr. I can tell this really helps my hot flashes.My husband is doing really good with the chemo. He is also alcoholic. He still works and to look at him you would never know he was sick.I hope you find something to help with the hot flashes. Try some exercise.  RealatorGirl Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT I, too, am on tamoxifen and have the sweats.  When working outside I wear a headband to keep the drips out of my eyes.  I take effexor in the a.m. and think it helps.  Jaybo Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT  My doctor prescribed a low dose of of venlafaxine/effexor (37.5mg twice a day).  It made a world of difference! Debra J. Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT I had a  bi-lateral mascectomy Oct. 22, (will be three years this Oct) and had radiation, no chemo - estrogen positive - and was put on Aramidex-  the side effects were so bad I had to stop - doctor wanted to put me on tamoxifin but i reaearched it on the internet and it said that it was to be taken AFTER 5 years of Aramidex.  In asmuch as I had only been on  Araidex for one month I could not see taking the Tamoxifin, besides according to the research, the side effects of that was even worse, so I elected to take nothing -- I am not recommending this to anyone - but this was my decision --  I then did a lot of research on the internet and on other cancer sites and am now taking Brevail (which is an over the counter estrogen blocker) recommended by others on the internet whio are taking it (and the doctor who invented or discovered it).  So far , so good - my exams and blood works come out great, I also take other over the counter tablets from my vitamin comopany that I have been using for years and years that are supposed to be anti cancer -   blueberry capsules, green tea, pomgranate capsules, , eat a lot of fresh and frozen broccoli  and  fresh blueberries.  Again, I am not saying you should try this, but I do think you should do a lot of research and see if there is not a better way without all the meds with their terrible side effects.  The side effects are worse than the illness.   Toni R - Orange, Ca. Tonir24 Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT   I too suffer horrible hot flashes, and I have found a wonderful way of battling them, especially at night and during naps. I went on ebay, and found these things called “Chillows”. You put then in between your pillow and pillow case. I have spent hundreds of $$$ on crap that didn't work, pills, herbs, and other gimmick solutions, but I swear by the chillows. And for when it gets really hot, and even my central air isn't good enough, in the pet care section, they sell much larger versions of the same as Chillows, called Cool Pet beds. I bought one for myself, and one for my dog!!! Its 36x42, and I put it between my sheets and mattress pad, and it keeps me nice and cool, all night long. Might sound crazy to some, but for those of us who have tried anything to find relief, this is my solution. It works in a thermo-genic manner, draws the heat out away from your head and body, disperses it thru the water, and out the other side. I get them so bad, I am drenched, and have even passed out a couple times while standing up, because I feel so yucky and nauseated, and if I cant sit or lie down right away, I will pass out. There horrible, and Chillows have been the best so far. During the day, I lay them on my chest while I am relaxing. It might seem a bit pricey, but was cheap compared to all the money I have spent on other things that didn't work at all, and went in the garbage. Good luck, and if you do decide to give them a try, let me knw what you think of them. I bought the chillows first, since your head is where you lose the most amount of heat the fastest, and when I saw how well they worked, I decided to get the larger pet pad. Take care, Net Netterz Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT I sympathize with you.  I also have hot flashes but not that bad.  I agree with Tori R. from Orange, CA  I also take Brevail capsules.  It is a flax seed lignan that works the same as Tamoxifin. but with no side affects.  I also take product called Estrogen Defense    They can be reached at 313-561-6800.  It also works the same but with no side affects.  I would advise you to go to brevail.com and research the product and also the many tips the Dr. there has to help you prevent getting breast cancer again.  I take the supplements she advises like Selenium, Turmeric, that is a few.  I would never take Tamoxifin or Arimadex they are ;poison.  Your Dr. would never agree with this because they want you on drugs and that is the only thing they know.  So if you do this I would not even tell him/her  Just recently I heard about a product that will end hot flashes and regulate your hormones and it is all natural it is called theracyl.  Go to theracyl.com and read up on it.  It is not cheap but to get your life back again without sweating to death it is well worth it. I am going to go for it.  Also,  Mammogerams, are crap.  Check out Thermograms.  they are wonderful, thats what I do. your insuranmce probably won't pay for it but a thermogrami is well worth it.  No one touches you it is done with heat sensetivity.  No pain and is very accurate.  I hope this helps .  Sarah77 Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi,  I have stage 4 pancratic cancer....the chemo threw me into menapauseno more period but all of the extra's that go along with it plus the added HOT FLASHES....OH SO HOT, AND THE NIGHT SWEATS OMG.  I spoke with my gyn and she advised me to go to the health fool store and by "EVENING PRIMROSE" , when I started them I was taking 6 gel caps per day now I take only 3 per day.  After about 5 days after I began them I notices that the flashes were on little sparks and I was still having night sweats but it was not like sleeping on the beach.  I have been using  Evening Primrose for 2 months now and I can not believe the difference in my life.  I had approched this treatment with a what do I have to loose attitude, and now I recommend it to all of my middle aged friends, cancer vic or not.  I have become the best friend to the hot flash/night sweat sufferer.  I hope this helps you, Evening Primrose is very inexpensive, down right cheap...........And oh the benifits.Vandy    vandyrenee Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT