Hot flashes

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8929
8929 Member Posts: 12
edited January 2019 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I recently just completed 30 radiation treatments. I am 69 years old and have not have had hot flashes since I went through menopause in my early 50’s. Since completing the radiation I have been getting hot flashes. Has anyone else experienced this? I have not yet started taking the arimidex which has a side effect of hot flashes. Any thoughts

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  • CindyNY
    CindyNY Member Posts: 1,022
    edited January 2019

    8929- I didn't really have hot flashes before dx. Then rads, no difference. On the AI, I get them worse than ever in my life. Can't hurt to ask your RO if it's something to do with your rads.

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  • 8929
    8929 Member Posts: 12
    edited January 2019

    thank you for replying. I am still not sure I am going to take the arimidex. So many side effects. Seems like you give up some quality of life. They give you something that is supposed to help you but just causes other problems. Just confused

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  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited January 2019

    I took Arimidex for 1 year and then MO switched me to Tamoxifen because Arimidex attacks the bones and I had osteopenia at the time. I did have hot flashes. I am post-menopausal too. Tamoxifen causes joint pain. I’m 7 years out so I don’t have to take it anymore but it was really brutal some nights. Btw my sister couldn’t tolerate Arimidex at all so her MO switched her meds too but sorry don’t recall the name of the new drug.

    I would ask my MO if there is anything you can take in addition to that will help. I had miserable hot flashes during menopause. Always hot.

    Diane

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  • 8929
    8929 Member Posts: 12
    edited January 2019

    thank you for your comment. I have not started taking the arimidex yet. I started having hot flashes shortly after finishing radiation. Don’t know if radiation caused it. I too have osteopenia too. That is why this drug scares me. It seems like it is going to make everything I already have worse. I’m new to this site. What does MO mean? What doctor is that? I see it mentioned a lot. I don’t know what to do. Tired of thinking about it tired of worrying about it. Happy you do not have to take it anymore.

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  • Runrcrb
    Runrcrb Member Posts: 577
    edited January 2019

    MO= medical oncologist

    The MO is who manages your aromatase inhibitor treatment. Talk to him or her about your concerns. I would not swear off the AI (aromatase inhibitor, arimidex is one of three, tamoxifen is different). Not everyone experiences side effects and you may experience side effects on one that go away when you switch to a different one. You should be comfortable with your treatment plan so please ask lots of questions of your doctor and do some research.

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