Hot flashes. Chemo? Rad? Surgery?

Helen321
Helen321 Member Posts: 1,460 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

I'm having a lot of hot flashes.  Anyone have these after chemo, rad or surgery?  The doctor did say radiation would cause menopause and also I had my ovaries removed and so maybe that's the cause.  I'm going to have to call the doctor Monday because it's now happening often enough that I should at least look into it to make sure I'm not lacking an important nutrient.

Comments

  • Chelsea71
    Chelsea71 Member Posts: 1,169 Member
    #2
    It's the ovaries. (or lack
    It's the ovaries. (or lack there of). When they are removed it's instant menopause. Completely normal and to be expected. Surprised your doc didn't prepare you. Happy you are home and doing well.
  • Coppercent
    Coppercent Member Posts: 158
    #3
    I have seen a lot of people

    I have seen a lot of people have the hot flashes. I personally didn't. Not sure if it was from the chemo radiation slowing my periods pre surgery or not.  I had a complete hysterectomy along with my resection. Good luck. I have watched someone have a hot flash and she was miserable.  We were out to dinner and all of a sudden she put her hand in her ice water and dumped the ice down her shirt. 

  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #4
    Like virtually everyone who has her ovaries removed,

    I too went into "instant menopause".  Hot flashes, emotional instability, the works.  I was utterly miserable, so am now on hormone replacement therapy.  You might talk to your doc about this, see if this treatment is ok for you.  There are a variety of factors to be considered, but low-dose, estrogen only therapy is now considered to be ok for many women for short-term use (like a year or so).  It gives your body a chance to recover and regain its hormonal balance.  Those hot flashes suck, imo, and I was thrilled that I could do something about them.  Hugs (luckily it's just a virutal hug and won't add to the heat!)~AA

  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
    #5
    Helen

    Well, the docs should have prepared you, but since they didn't, what Ann said and also importantly, I got a 64 ounce mug that I filled up with ice water to last through the nights (you will wake up sweating and with hot flashes)and it helped me through my menopause years, you will appreciate ice cold water next to you when it happens.

    You've been through so much this past week, I'm so sorry more has been added to it.

    You are and have been in my thoughts.

    Winter Marie

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,460 Member
    #6
    Coppercent said:

    I have seen a lot of people

    I have seen a lot of people have the hot flashes. I personally didn't. Not sure if it was from the chemo radiation slowing my periods pre surgery or not.  I had a complete hysterectomy along with my resection. Good luck. I have watched someone have a hot flash and she was miserable.  We were out to dinner and all of a sudden she put her hand in her ice water and dumped the ice down her shirt. 

    lol Wow, I hope it doesn't

    lol Wow, I hope it doesn't get that bad.  So far I am just walking around in a tank top which doesn't help because the heat is internal. 

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,460 Member
    #7
    annalexandria said:

    Like virtually everyone who has her ovaries removed,

    I too went into "instant menopause".  Hot flashes, emotional instability, the works.  I was utterly miserable, so am now on hormone replacement therapy.  You might talk to your doc about this, see if this treatment is ok for you.  There are a variety of factors to be considered, but low-dose, estrogen only therapy is now considered to be ok for many women for short-term use (like a year or so).  It gives your body a chance to recover and regain its hormonal balance.  Those hot flashes suck, imo, and I was thrilled that I could do something about them.  Hugs (luckily it's just a virutal hug and won't add to the heat!)~AA

    I am going to call on

    I am going to call on Monday.  What sort of doctor do you go to for this.  I wasn't sure if it was a gyno or another specialist.

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,460 Member
    #8
    herdizziness said:

    Helen

    Well, the docs should have prepared you, but since they didn't, what Ann said and also importantly, I got a 64 ounce mug that I filled up with ice water to last through the nights (you will wake up sweating and with hot flashes)and it helped me through my menopause years, you will appreciate ice cold water next to you when it happens.

    You've been through so much this past week, I'm so sorry more has been added to it.

    You are and have been in my thoughts.

    Winter Marie

    We were so busy focusing on

    We were so busy focusing on the cancer, the ovaries sort of got pushed into the background.  The timing could not be better because it's freezing here and so I just open the door and let the cold in.  Thank goodness it's not summer. 

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #9
    Which is it?

    I'm also having hot flashes, but at 54 I don't know if its the chemo or if I'm going into the menopause phase of life. 

    Of course, having your ovaries removed would definitely cause you to go headlong into menopause. 

  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #10
    Helen321 said:

    I am going to call on

    I am going to call on Monday.  What sort of doctor do you go to for this.  I wasn't sure if it was a gyno or another specialist.

    In my case,

    it was my gynecological oncological surgeon (now that's a mouthful).  Probably any women's doc could address this for you.

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,460 Member
    #11
    Trubrit said:

    Which is it?

    I'm also having hot flashes, but at 54 I don't know if its the chemo or if I'm going into the menopause phase of life. 

    Of course, having your ovaries removed would definitely cause you to go headlong into menopause. 

    Yeah I had some during the

    Yeah I had some during the chemo but not too many, I had a few during the radiation but not too many but now I'm full force having them.  I'm going to make an appt. with my regular GYN to start addressing the possibilities and see if I need hormone replacement or anything else.

  • Ruffy7
    Ruffy7 Member Posts: 126
    #12
    Helen321 said:

    Yeah I had some during the

    Yeah I had some during the chemo but not too many, I had a few during the radiation but not too many but now I'm full force having them.  I'm going to make an appt. with my regular GYN to start addressing the possibilities and see if I need hormone replacement or anything else.

    After my right ovary was

    After my right ovary was taken out menopause hit with a vengence - 10-15 hot flashes a day, and several night sweats - couldn't sleep was completely tired and irritable.  Started on the Vivelle Dot patch and prometrium.  Within 3 weeks was feeling so much better - haven't had a hot flash/night sweat since last Sept.  I did check with my oncologist to make sure HRT was ok.  Good luck - menopause on top of everything else is no fun :(

  • Perky chick
    Perky chick Member Posts: 3
    #13
    Been there

    i was thrown into early menapause from having radiation and hot flashes were really becoming an issue.  I didn't want to do HRT so my doctor recommended an anti-depressent that has been effective in reducing hot flashes called Effexor.  It has worked great for me so if you are a bit leary about HRT or want another option check into that.  

    Good luck

    Janice

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