As a long time sufferer of hot flushes and night sweats, due to a hysterectomy when I was 42 yrs, long before I got bc, I was intrigued by this email from a friend.
I have numerous hot flushes daily and even worse at night. I have looked at and tried, almost everything - St. John’s Wort (steer clear if you have bc), evening primrose oil, the chillow pillow, and even melatonin I got from a friend in the USA. Nothing assuages them.
This is about researchers at the University of Manchester testing a secret herb to stop these flushes, that besiege breast cancer patients on hormone treatment, as I am, on Arimidex.
If anyone is interested in research, the URL is:
cancercompass.com/cancer-treatment/secret-herb-in-tests-to-stop-breast-cancer. The article was dated May 2006, so don’t know what has happened in the meantime. It seems to be something allied with the mint family of herbs.The researchers were looking for 170 volunteers from the Greater Manchester and Cheshire Area, for a randomized double blind trial
Does anyone from that area know about this trial? and, if so, what were the results? It would be a life saver for many of us if it works.
Liz.
Dear Liz,
I took part in the trial during autumn 2006. The purpose of the trial was to determine whether a herb (from the mint family containing a substance called phytoestrogen) is an effective treatment for hot flushes and night sweats in breast cancer patients. Seeing your post reminded me that I have not been sent the results of the trial. I will email the researcher and let you know her response. During the trial, I did not get any reduction in symptoms, but that was probably because I was taking the placebo. I think the herb is sage leaf.
Debbie
Hi Debbie
Thanks for your response. When I was first diagnosed the part time female GP suggested sage and St. John’s Wort, but when I asked my Oncologist he told me not to take them. I will be really interested in the trial results, as I have suffered with hot sweats since having a hysterectomy in 1991. I sometimes think I will have them forever!
Liz
The Bristol homeopathic hospital has been having amazing success in controlling night sweats and hot lfushes according to 2 women I know who had suffered terribly. Maybe check out a homeopath? Individual prescriptions are necessary depending on history.
Wishing you well,
Jenny