title: Hot flashes severity, complementary and alternative medicine use, and self-rated health in women with breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hot flashes (HF) are a common distressing symptom in women with breast cancer (BC). Current pharmacologic options are moderately effective and are associated with bothersome side effects. Complementary and alternative medicine is commonly used by cancer patients. However, information on the association of hot flashes severity with such use and self-rated health is lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the hot flashes severity in women with breast cancer and its association with complementary and alternative medicine use and self-rated health (SRH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal multicenter study to assess information needs of cancer outpatients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with a diagnosis of breast cancer who were scheduled to undergo chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hot flashes severity (0 = not present and 10 = as bad as you can imagine), use of complementary and alternative medicine (yes/no), and self-rating of health (SRH) status post-treatment and six-months thereafter (1-5, higher score = better SRH).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of women with HF (mean age = 54.4 years) were Caucasian and married, with higher education, and 93% had received surgical treatment for BC. At the end of treatment, 79% women reported experiencing HF [mean severity = 5.87, standard deviation (SD) = 2.9]; significantly more severe HF were reported by younger women with poor SRH, poor performance status, and those reporting doing spiritual practices. At follow-up, 73% had HF (mean severity = 4.86, SD = 3.0), and more severe HF were reported by younger women with poor self-rated health who had undergone chemotherapy plus radiotherapy, used vitamins, and did not exercise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high percentage of women experienced hot flashes at the end of treatment and at six-month follow-up. A significant association of hot flashes severity with spiritual practice, increased vitamin use, and reduced exercise emphasize the need for future studies to confirm the results. This can facilitate safe use of complementary and alternative medicine and favorable outcomes while managing cancer-related hot flashes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY. Electronic address: kavita_chandwani@urmc.rochester.edu.
authors.forename: Kavita D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Chandwani
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Heckler
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Supriya G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Mohile
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Mustian
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janelsins
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Luke J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Peppone
authors.affiliation: Rochester General Hospital, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bushunow
authors.affiliation: Metro-Minnesota CCOP, Minneapolis, MN.
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Flynn
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Gary R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Morrow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D026443:Spiritual Therapies; D017741:Survivors; D014815:Vitamins
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins
keywords: Breast cancer; complementary and alternative medicine; hot flashes; self-rated health