Hot flash management: update of the evidence for patients with cancer

Hot flashes are a distressing symptom frequently experienced by survivors of breast cancer or prostate cancer who are receiving estrogen or androgen-deprivation therapies. The frequency and intensity of hot flashes can lead to diminished quality of life and decreased adherence with prescribed antineoplastic therapies. This evidence-based review synthesizes and updates the findings of the highest quality evidence-based studies of interventions to manage hot flashes resulting from cancer therapies in patients with breast or prostate cancer since the initial Putting Evidence Into Practice review of hot flashes in 2011. Recent studies involving a variety of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions were evaluated and, as reported in 2011, the drugs gabapentin and venlafaxine were the only therapies rated as likely to be effective. In addition, a strong placebo effect was noted in several studies that included a placebo intervention and should be considered when reviewing interventions for hot flashes.