In an experimental study, breast cancer survivors who experienced severe hot flashes underwent nerve block therapy to regulate their body’s temperature and found the number of occurrences was decreased dramatically, according to an article published in Thursday’s Lancet Oncology.
Within the study, the average number of hot flashes per week fell from about 80 to 8 and there was a marked decrease in nighttime awakenings, according to the Lancet.
Hot flashes and sleep dysfunction are not uncommon occurrences in breast cancer survivors, especially those who take anti-estrogen drugs.
The women involved in the research were given one nerve block during the course of the study, but they were allowed a second one if they thought the effects of the first block was starting to subside.
Of 13 women, 8 asked for a second block, said researchers. As mentioned above, the number of hot flashes per week decreased and “severe” hot flashes basically disappeared.
The women participating said night awakenings dropped from 19.5 per week before treatment to 1.4 per week after the nerve block.
Click here to read more on this study from the Lancet Oncology.
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