As a cancer survivor you may be experiencing hot flashes because of surgical removal of ovaries or because of hormone suppressive therapy to decrease the levels of estrogen in the body. This problem is not just experienced by breast and ovarian cancer survivors, but it’s also a problem for men taking hormone-blocking therapy as a treatment for prostate cancer.
Some things that you can simply do to keep yourself cool,
- Dress in loose layers.
- For clothing and bed linens, use loosely woven cotton materials.
- Keep air circulating with a fan or an open window.
- Enjoy cool drinks instead of hot beverages.
- Avoid the things that make your body temperature increase, such as smoking, drinking alcohol and caffeine, and eating spicy foods.
- Be aware that certain foods that may trigger hot flashes, including those that contain tyramine such as aged cheeses, red wine, tomatoes and citrus fruits.
It is also important to avoid triggers of Hot flashes. Stress (hard to avoid when undergoing breast cancer treatment) is a leading trigger—underscoring the value of relaxation and stress-reduction techniques such as massage, breathing exercises, meditation, yoga or biofeedback. Other frequent triggers include consumption of alcohol, caffeine, hot and/or spicy food, and smoking.
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Edwin Alvarez 