title: Long-term chinese herbs decoction administration for management of hot flashes associated with endocrine therapy in breast cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of Chinese herbs decoction Shu-Gan-Liang-Xue on endocrine therapy- associated hot flashes symptom in breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six patients with breast cancer receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy were categorized to two groups, the control group received endocrine therapy alone, the other group is administered with Chinese herbs decoction Shu-Gan-Liang-Xue besides the endocrine therapy: Shu-Gan-Liang-Xue decoction was administered above 6 months per year for more than 2 years. Frequency of hot flashes per day was recorded, and the effect of Shu-Gan-Liang-Xue decoction on hot flashes symptom being assessed with Kupperman Scoring Index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty cases were analyzed, 32 cases in endocrine therapy combining Chinese herbs decoction group, 28 cases in mere endocrine therapy group. For hot flashes symptom, in Chinese herbs decoction administration group, 7 cases (21.9%) reported symptom disappeared, 22 cases (68.7%) reported symptom alleviated, 3 cases (9.4%) reported symptom not changed; in endocrine therapy alone group, 5 cases (17.9%) reported symptom disappeared, 13 cases (46.4%) reported symptom alleviated, 10 cases (10/28, 35.7%) reported symptom not changed. The difference between two groups was statistically significant (P=0.013). For sleeping disorder, in Chinese herbs decoction administration group, 27 cases (84.4%) reported symptom improved, 5 cases (15.6%) reported no change; in endocrine therapy alone group, 16 cases (57.1%) symptom improved, 12 cases (42.9%) reported no change in sleeping disorder (P=0.019), the difference was also of significance statistically.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term Chinese herbs decoction administration remarkably improved hot flashes symptom and sleeping disorder associated with endocrine therapy, meanwhile without definite toxicity and influence on the risk of recurrence of tumor.
authors: Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Integrative Medicine, Peking University School of Oncology, Beijing Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China.
authors: Dong
authors: D
authors: Xue
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Sun
authors: Ping-Ping
authors: PP
authors: Li
keywords: Breast cancer; Chinese herbs decoction; Endocrine therapy; Hot flashes; Tamoxifen