Ladies what are u doing for your hot flashes. I had to go into medically induced menopause due to my Breast Cancer...

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - medically-induced menopause at 32 is incredibly challenging, and the hot flashes can be absolutely brutal. You're definitely not alone in this struggle.

Understanding What's Happening

When breast cancer treatment forces your body into menopause (through medications like GnRH agonists, ovarian suppression, or certain chemotherapies), the sudden drop in estrogen and progesterone can cause severe menopausal symptoms - often worse than natural menopause because the change is so abrupt rather than gradual.

According to NCCN Guidelines, common symptoms include:

• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Vaginal dryness and atrophy
• Mood changes
• Sleep disturbances
• Weight changes

Evidence-Based Options for Hot Flashes

Non-Hormonal Medications

Since you stopped Venlafaxine (Effexor), here are other options your care team might consider:

SSRIs/SNRIs (like what you tried):

• Paroxetine (Paxil) - FDA-approved specifically for hot flashes
• Escitalopram (Lexapro)
• Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq)

Other medications:

• Gabapentin (Neurontin) - often effective for hot flashes, especially nighttime ones
• Pregabalin (Lyrica) - similar to gabapentin
• Clonidine - blood pressure medication that can help hot flashes
• Oxybutynin - originally for bladder issues, but shows promise for hot flashes

Non-Medication Approaches

Lifestyle modifications that research supports:

• Layered clothing and keeping rooms cool (especially bedroom)
• Avoiding triggers: caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, hot beverages
• Regular exercise - can reduce hot flash frequency and severity
• Stress reduction: yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises
• Acupuncture - some studies show benefit for cancer-related hot flashes
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) - specifically designed for menopausal symptoms

Cooling strategies:

• Cooling pillows and mattress pads
• Portable fans
• Cooling vests or neck wraps
• Ice water by bedside

What About Hormone Therapy?

For hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer, systemic hormone replacement therapy is generally NOT recommended because it could potentially stimulate cancer growth. However, according to NCCN Guidelines, vaginal estrogen (low-dose, local application) may be considered for severe vaginal symptoms after discussion with your oncology team, as it has minimal systemic absorption.

Important Questions for Your Care Team

1. Given my specific breast cancer subtype (ER/PR/HER2 status), which non-hormonal medications are safest for me?

2. Would gabapentin or pregabalin be appropriate alternatives to the SSRI I tried?

3. Are there any clinical trials for new hot flash treatments for young breast cancer survivors?

4. Could I benefit from referral to a menopause specialist who works with cancer patients?

5. What about vaginal estrogen for vaginal symptoms - is that safe in my case?

6. Are there integrative medicine approaches (acupuncture, supplements) that are safe with my treatment?

Additional Support

The American Cancer Society and NCCN both emphasize that managing treatment-related menopause requires a specialized approach. Consider asking for referral to:

• A menopause specialist familiar with cancer patients
• Integrative oncology services
• Survivorship clinic

Many cancer centers now have dedicated programs for young breast cancer survivors dealing with these exact issues.

Why You Shouldn't Just Suffer

These symptoms significantly impact quality of life, and there ARE options beyond what you've tried. The fact that Effexor didn't work well for you doesn't mean other approaches won't help. Many women find relief through combination approaches - medication plus lifestyle changes plus complementary therapies.

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult your healthcare team for personalized medical advice and decisions.

What specific symptoms are bothering you most right now? That might help narrow down which approaches to discuss with your doctor first.