Can anyone tell me how long hot flashes typically last?

I was diagnosed in July, 2014 and had my first chemo in October of that year. I went immediately into chemopause with all the lovely hot flashes and still have them. The hot flashes seem to ebb and flow. I will have periods when I don't have many and then periods where they are uncontrolled. I have found that I usually have one every morning before getting out of bed. My MO said that is probably because my body has been in a state of rest and is now being awakened and it is a bit of a shock. Other times that I find I have them are when I am stressed.

I don't take any medication and just ride the waves.

That's a good question -- I had my ovaries out at the end of December and noticed a few hot flashes but nothing major until I started on Femara in mid-February. I know have them every hour or hour and a half during the day and I am woken up at night 4-5 times with night sweats and hot flashes and then I have insomnia and can't go back to sleep! I was hoping that my body just has to settle into a new normal??? My oncologist prescribed Effexor for me today at my appointment so will be trying that. She also mentioned the gabapentin as another option for me if Effexor doesn't work so sorry to hear you don't think that's working for you!?

dccancer -- I am 50 and wasn't anywhere near menopause. My doctor felt that AI's would be better for me to take instead of Tamoxifen as I have a family history of high blood pressure and strokes/clots (I have had high blood pressure since I was 33 myself). Since I wasn't near menopause, she said I could suppress ovulation with a shot every month or so for a few years or have my ovaries taken out. I opted to go that route so I could just get it taken care of and not have to worry about going in so often. Good luck -- I didn't have to convince my MO since she suggested it to me and I was fine with that option!