Sweating

I had the most hot flashes during the 10 years or so I was premenopausal. And yes, mine were usually triggered by something specific. For example, I could not drink wine at all during this period as just one or two sips precipitated a hot flash. But other women I knew had more severe hot flashes that didn't seem tied to any particular triggers.

After menopause I would occasionally have a hot flash (although thankfully not while drinking wine!), but for the most part I was done with them.

However, after my cancer surgery at 61, I did experience more hot flashes during my chemotherapy. And yes, it's odd to have your bald heat sweating – I used to take a cool washcloth and wipe it off when it occurred. And I had to go back to sleeping with a fan cooling me during the night.

In my case, these frequent hot flashes stopped after I finished chemotherapy. But since your hot flashes are more likely a result of surgical menopause, even if aggravated by chemo, your doctor may have suggestions on best way to address them.

I didn't take any drugs or supplements for hot flashes when I was premenopausal since I learned what my triggers were and avoided them when I could. And the hot flashes during chemo, while annoying, weren't the most severe side effect so I just ignored them, beyond using my fan.

I had uterine cancer in 2010 and a recurrence in 2017.  Before I even had surgery or chemo, I developed hot flashes and night sweats.  I hadn't had any before the cancer, and I'd been in menopause for almost 10 years.  Maybe yours will go away after the cancer does, like mine did.

I should also mention that I had Grave's disease (which is hyperthyroidism plus a goiter) when I was in my 30's.  I was sweating a lot with that.  If yours doesn't go away, you might try asking your family doctor for a thyroid check if he doesn't do it already.  Hyperthyroidism can have many other symptoms like weight loss and eyes that bulge out a little.  People always used to notice how big my eyes were.  Little did I know I had something wrong with me that caused that.   

Ugh! Before my hysterectomy I was having a bit of night sweating and like cmb I would sometimes get a hot flash with wine but for the most part that was it...all my sweating was usually just in spin and yoga class...

but now...

hot flashes! So fun! love it when I am just finishing my makeup and hair and boom! Hot flash! ruins the hair and makeup...

I do notice I seem to sweat more...today in yoga I was literally dripping (the room is warmed to 90) and I got a hot flash...

I did not have them DURING chemo itself because I cold capped (so I was cold during the whole infusion and after) but did seem to have more during the months I was going through chemo.

anyone get COLD flashes?

there are times I am literally freezing...like need a blanket freezing...teeth chattering freezing...

I get them all the time too...under a blanket right now...heater on...and I live in TEXAS!

The only time I had a cold flash was the night before my hysterectomy.  That was probably due to nerves and no food for 36 hours.  The hot flashes were bad before and after.  I keep the temperature in my room at 66.  The hot flashes seem a little more intense after the hysterectomy.  I am changing my sheets daily. It might be my body trying to get ride of the anesthesia toxins.  I am hoping these will ease up as I recover!

I also have trouble with being cold, it is awful.  I have a blanket, space heater, and a hat and gloves on right now.  Chills. shaking, and shivers, worse at night, and it doesnt help that, so far, this has been a very cold winter

ckdgedmom said:

so.much.sweating.

Ugh! Before my hysterectomy I was having a bit of night sweating and like cmb I would sometimes get a hot flash with wine but for the most part that was it...all my sweating was usually just in spin and yoga class...

but now...

hot flashes! So fun! love it when I am just finishing my makeup and hair and boom! Hot flash! ruins the hair and makeup...

I do notice I seem to sweat more...today in yoga I was literally dripping (the room is warmed to 90) and I got a hot flash...

I did not have them DURING chemo itself because I cold capped (so I was cold during the whole infusion and after) but did seem to have more during the months I was going through chemo.

anyone get COLD flashes?

there are times I am literally freezing...like need a blanket freezing...teeth chattering freezing...

I get them all the time too...under a blanket right now...heater on...and I live in TEXAS!

I am 2 weeks post surgery and I notice i tend to get a cold flash just before getting a hot flash.  I will be freezing my butt off under ten blankets and building a fire.  the next minute I am burning up opening the doors and peeling layers of clothes off to cool off it is tough finding the perfect medium.  Before my hysterectomy I was fine between 65-70 degrees crazy I keep asking my aunts and relatives that have gone through menopause for advice but none of them can remember having cold or hot flashes 

Hi I had breast cancer in 1999. I had adriamycin and cytoxin. I was triple negative. Stage 1. Lumpectomy and removed 20 nodes. I was recently diagnosed with neuropathy in my feet. I hade more than one neurologist tell me it was probably due to the chemo I had in 1999. I have neuropathy in my upper body on the right side where I had the cancer. I have a slew of nerve issues that may be ergonomic or maybe chemo or radiation related. Who knows! I’ve had hot flashes since the chemo at age 43. The past year they have gotten really really bad. I don’t think they are regular hot flashes. They won’t turn off. It makes putting makeup on and doing hair impossible. Seriously, I lift my pinky finger and I sweat, profusely. If I am anxious or physically active I sweat profusely. It runs off my forehead and drips to the floor. My hair, especially around nape of neck, is soaked. It is gross and embarrassing. Also suddenly I stink all the time. My antiperspirant doesn’t work anymore. All of a sudden. I’ve tried 5 different kinds. Including natural deodorants. Stinking has never been an issue with me. My right armpit where I had lymph node surgery and radiation doesn’t sweat anymore so that isn’t a problem but my left armpit, OMG. What is going on? Im beginning to wonder if this is chemo related. Getting old and heavier is bad enough. Sweating and stinking all the time (and I mean right out of the shower when a sweat starts) is miserable. Does anyone have any experience with sweating and stinking (sorry don’t know what else to call it) this far out? My PCP looks at me glazed when I talk about the sweating. I think I’m going to try and see an oncologist. Help

I can’t say whether the sweating and body odor are a long-delayed side effect of chemo. However, given your age, they could be just symptoms of late menopause. My friend experienced many episodes of drenching sweat for a few years post menopause. She had no other health issues.

Another friend sought help for her sweating issues from a dermatologist. If you haven’t consulted with one yet, you may want to try this type of doctor. The dermatologist was able to help my friend to reduce the frequency and amount of sweating she was experiencing. 

If I were you, and if you haven't already done so, I would want to be evaluated by a cardiologist to rule out any heart-related issues.

As I'm sure you already know, cardiotoxicity is one of the side effects of adriamycin. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1271861/

In addition, I came across this recent study in the American Journal of Cardiovascular Disease entitled, "Hyperhydrosis, the Neglected Sign in Heart Failure Patients." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8611272/ This article states in part that, "Profuse sweating is a symptom often reported during cardiological outpatient visits or emergency department admission; although extremely debilitating, it is often neglected by clinicians, and not investigated and treated."

After doing a little more research, I see that there are cardiologists that diagnose and treat heart-related issues caused by cancer treatments called cardio-oncologists: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24043-cardio-oncologist

I hope your issues turn out to be nothing serious, but I would want to make sure that no major problems are overlooked.

Good luck in getting some answers and a resolution soon!

Hello Zoehuck,

Welcome,

There are several obvious causes of hot flashes and or night sweats, menopause, which means less estrogen, but also the imbalance of estrogen to progestins can also be a cause. We here who have also had hysterectomies, bilateral ovary removal, have very little estrogen and can suffer from hot flashes or night sweats long after menopause. I had TERRIBLE hot flashes during menopause which lasted about 10 years, sad to say. I have continued night sweats, no daytime sweating, due to the fact I have no ovaries or uterus, no estrogen. My vaginal tissues are extremely fragile due to the lack of estrogen, so that an internal exam is very uncomfortable. Because my cancer was serous, not estrogen driven, they prescribed an estrogen cream which alleviates most of the pain and "plumps" up my tissues, but if your breast cancer was estrogen dependent you probably cannot have any extra hormones. I would certainly look into what MoeKay says about the cardiac issues. It sounds like you need a complete workup to determine the cause. Good luck to you.

Denise