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Key takeaways:
- Hypnotherapy is a proven, non-hormonal option for managing hot flashes in breast cancer survivors, reducing symptoms by up to 70% without interfering with treatment.
- Hot flashes also affect men undergoing hormone therapy for prostate cancer, and hypnotherapy may offer symptom relief in these cases as well.
For women facing breast cancer, hormonal treatments can come with their own challenges, one of the most bothersome being hot flashes.
One study shows that around 22% of women prescribed Taximofen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator used to prevent and treat breast cancer, had stopped taking the drug within 12 months, putting them at a higher risk of breast cancer reoccurance.
Dr. Gary Elkins, neuroscientist and Evia co-creator, believes this may be because of the related side-effects of hot flashes and night sweats.
Breast cancer treatments and hot flashes
Estrogen is thought to fuel the growth of breast cancer cells and many breast cancer survivors are prescribed selective estrogen receptor modulators, such as Taximofen, to reduce their estrogen production and therefore the opportunity for cancer to regrow. This can lead to menopause-like symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats.
For example, breast cancer treatments such as ovarian ablations either prevent or lower the amount of estrogen ovaries produce. And medications like aromatase inhibitors lower estrogen levels by stopping a fat tissue enzyme from changing other hormones into estrogen. Additionally, some estrogen-blocking medications must be taken by women for many years after their treatment has ended.
While the Irish study showed that almost a quarter of women stopped taking these drugs earlier than prescribed, others may use prescribed antidepressants or tranquilizers to manage side-effects.
Non-drug treatments such as hypnotherapy have also been shown to be highly effective in reducing associated hot flashes - and may help women continue taking their breast cancer treatments for longer.
Hypnotherapy for hot flashes
In 2008, Dr. Elkins released a study into the use of hypnotherapy as a hot flash management tool for breast cancer survivors.
The study took women through five weekly hypnotherapy sessions and by the end of the treatment period, he noted that the frequency and severity of hot flashes had decreased by almost 70%. Some women found that their hot flashes disappeared altogether.
They also reported significant improvements in anxiety, depression, sleep, and how hot flashes interfered with their daily activities.
Male hot flashes
It might come as a surprise to some, but men can experience debilitating hot flashes too, not dissimilar to women experiencing menopause.
For those who have had prostate cancer or are taking anti-androgen treatments, hot flashes can be as severe and frustrating as they are for women.
And they’re one of the most complained about symptoms. This study even suggests that men’s hot flashes caused by prostate cancer are more frequent and severe than menopausal hot flashes.
While more research needs to be done, it's thought that hypnotherapy for hot flashes may also help men using hormone treatments.
The Wrap Up
Hypnotherapy for hot flashes is a non-hormonal solution for women experiencing breast cancer who are unable to use estrogen-based therapies to manage their symptoms. Evia creator Dr. Gary Elkins found through his research that hot flashes and night sweats are hugely problematic for these women. He saw that hypnotherapy could effectively calm their symptoms without relying on hormones that interfere with breast cancer treatments. Men with prostate cancer can also suffer from debilitating hot flashes, and hypnotherapy may even deliver similar results.
References
Breast Cancer Prevention: Aromatase Inhibitors. The American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/risk-and-prevention/aromatase-inhibitors-for-lowering-breast-cancer-risk.html. Published 2021. Accessed August 23, 2022.
Elkins G, Marcus J, Stearns V, et al. Randomized trial of a hypnosis intervention for treatment of hot flashes among breast cancer survivors. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26(31):5022-5026. doi:10.1200/JCO.2008.16.6389
Elkins G, Marcus J, Palamara L, Stearns V. Can hypnosis reduce hot flashes in breast cancer survivors? A literature review. Am J Clin Hypn. 2004;47(1):29-42. doi:10.1080/00029157.2004.10401473
Engstrom CA. Hot flashes in prostate cancer: state of the science. Am J Mens Health. 2008;2(2):122-132. doi:10.1177/1557988306298802
Frisk J. Managing hot flushes in men after prostate cancer--a systematic review. Maturitas. 2010;65(1):15-22. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2009.10.017
Hot flushes. Cancer Research UK. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/prostate-cancer/practical-emotional-support/hormone-symptoms/sex-hormones-hot-flushes. Published 2019. Accessed September 15, 2022.
Hot flashes in men: An update. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/hot-flashes-in-men-an-update. Accessed September 16, 2022.
Hutton B, Hersi M, Cheng W, et al. Comparing Interventions for Management of Hot Flashes in Patients With Breast and Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analyses. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2020;47(4):E86-E106. doi:10.1188/20.ONF.E86-E106
Irani J, Salomon L, Oba R, Bouchard P, Mottet N. Efficacy of venlafaxine, medroxyprogesterone acetate, and cyproterone acetate for the treatment of vasomotor hot flushes in men taking gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues for prostate cancer: a double-blind, randomised trial. Lancet Oncol. 2010;11(2):147-154. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(09)70338-9
Tanne JH. Irish study shows women stop taking tamoxifen too early. BMJ. 2007;334(7588):280. doi:10.1136/bmj.39118.410637.DB
