Hot flashes in postmenopausal women treated for breast carcinoma: Prevalence, severity, correlates, management, and relation to quality of life

Janet S. Carpenter, Michael A. Andrykowski, Matthew Cordova, Lauren Cunningham, Jamie Studts, Patrick McGrath, Daniel Kenady, David Sloan, Rita Munn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

209 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND. Research on hot flashes (HFs) after the diagnosis and treatment of breast carcinoma (BC) is scarce. To our knowledge, this research represents the second study of HF prevalence and severity in women with BC and the first study of 1) correlates of HF prevalence and severity, 2) use of HF management strategies, and 3) the relation between HFs and quality of life (QOL) among women with BC. METHODS. Eligible women (n = 136) participated in structured telephone interviews. RESULTS. Of the 114 postmenopausal women interviewed, 65% reported HFs, with 59% of women with HFs (n = 74) rating the symptom as severe. Multivariate analysis revealed that 1) HFs were most common in women with a high school education or less and those who were younger at diagnosis and 2) HFs were most severe in women with a higher body mass index, those who were younger at diagnosis, and those receiving tamoxifen. Among women with HFs, 37% were not using any HF management strategies and 63% expressed interest in learning more regarding ≤ 1 strategy. HFs marginally were related to decreased mental and physical QOL using the SF-12 Health Survey (P < 0.10). CONCLUSIONS. The results of the current study significantly contribute to knowledge regarding HFs in women with BC and support the need for carefully controlled clinical trials evaluating interventions for relieving HFs in this population.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1682-1691
Number of pages10
JournalCancer
Volume82
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 1998

Keywords

  • Breast carcinoma
  • Hot flash
  • Menopause
  • Quality of life
  • Symptom

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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