Hot Flashes and Breast Cancer
Updated on November 14, 2025
A hot flash is a sudden, intense, hot feeling on your face and upper body, which usually causes sweating. Hot flashes feel different for everyone. The skin on your face and neck may feel flushed, and, depending on your complexion, may redden like you’re blushing. As the flash ends, you may feel chills. Some people also experience a rapid heartbeat, nausea, dizziness, headache, weakness, or anxiety.
Some people also experience a sense of unease right before a hot flash, giving them a hint that one is on the way. That feeling of unease is called an “aura.”
Hot flashes that happen at night are referred to as night sweats and can disrupt your sleep.
Hot flashes can make everyday activities difficult and are the No. 1 reason women seek medical care during menopause.
What causes hot flashes?
The cause of hot flashes is most commonly the drop in estrogen brought on by menopause — be it natural, surgical, or brought on by breast cancer treatments.
This drop in estrogen throws off the hypothalamus — the part of your brain that regulates body temperature. The hypothalamus thinks your body needs cooling down even when it doesn’t, and triggers the hot flash and actually lowers your body temperature.
How long does a hot flash last?
A hot flash can last anywhere from a few seconds, a few minutes, or even as long as an hour, and varies dramatically from person to person.
The frequency also varies: some people who experience hot flashes get them daily, while others just get them once in a while. For some, hot flashes may occur for a year or two before stopping; others may have them for much longer. Results from about 1,500 women in the SWAN study found that half the women had hot flashes for less than seven years and half had them for more than seven years. Women who were pre- or peri-menopausal when they started having hot flashes were more likely to have hot flashes go on for more than seven years.
When do hot flashes happen?
Hot flashes can happen at any time: in the morning, at night, or during the day. The timing, intensity, and frequency of hot flashes are different for each person.
Some women say that hot flashes that wake them up — either in the morning or at night — are worse than hot flashes that happen during the day. If you’re awake, you might be able to sense a hot flash coming on and prepare yourself. If you’re asleep, the hot flash happens and you wake up drenched in sweat, not sure what’s happened until you’re fully awake. Plus, if it’s the middle of the night, a hot flash/night sweat can leave you wide awake with your heart racing, making it hard to fall back asleep.
Who gets hot flashes?
Up to 80% of U.S. women have hot flashes during menopause. Although many people have mild to moderate hot flashes, about 10% have severe hot flashes.
Hot flash relief
For some women, hot flashes are mild and gradually fade away on their own. But for others, hot flashes are extremely disruptive and require treatment.
New research shows non-hormonal treatments can ease hot flashes, which is good news for people with a history of breast cancer.
While there's no cure for hot flashes, there are lifestyle changes and medicines that can offer relief.
Avoid triggers
The best relief from a hot flash is avoiding one in the first place. Known hot flash triggers include stress, smoking, alcohol, caffeine, and spicy food. Hot tubs, saunas, hot showers, hot rooms, and hot weather, as well as hot food and drinks, can also cause hot flashes.
Reduce fat and sugar in your diet
Studies have shown that, over time, reducing the amount of fat and sugar in your diet may help provide some hot flash relief. Losing excess weight can also help, but losing too much weight or being too thin can worsen hot flashes.
A 2020 review that analyzed results from 19 studies found that eating more highly processed foods, saturated fats, and sugar was linked to more intense hot flashes.
A 2023 study looked at low-fat, plant-based diets that included soybeans, which contain phytoestrogens (plant-based compounds similar in structure to estrogen), and their effect on hot flashes. The group of women on the plant-based diet experienced an 88% reduction in hot flashes, compared to 34% for those who did not change their diet. Talk to your oncologist before changing your diet to see if this type of diet is a good idea for you.
Dress in breathable fabrics
Some fabrics, such as cotton, linen, and rayon, are known for being airy, which can help you stay cool and provide some hot flash relief. Cotton in particular absorbs sweat and dries quickly. Dress in layers, so if you do start to get warmer, you can easily peel off a layer or two to cool down. Just as it’s a good idea to lean toward cotton and the other fabrics mentioned above, you also should avoid thick, heavy fabrics and synthetics.
Keep cool with ice water
It may seem like a no-brainer, but keep ice water and maybe even a small cooler full of cold water with you. If you can, lower the room temperature by turning down the thermostat, turning on the air conditioner, or using a fan. You also can try soaking a bandana or scarf in ice water and then draping it around your neck.
Take cool showers before bed
If you get night sweats, try taking a cool shower before bed and sleeping in cotton pajamas — those are easier to change than sheets. All-cotton bedding may keep you cooler than sheets that have polyester in them. If the hot flashes are interfering with your ability to get enough sleep, talk with your doctor about ways to manage sleep disruptions, including lifestyle changes and medicine.
Try natural remedies
Several natural remedies for hot flashes, such as meditation, massage, yoga, and acupuncture, can be helpful. It may take some trial-and-error to find one that’s right for you. Unfortunately, no over-the-counter dietary supplement or herbal therapy has been proven to offer hot flash relief.
Ask your doctor about medicine
There are several medicines that can ease hot flashes, including elinzanetant (brand name: Lynkuet) and Veozah (chemical name: fezolinetant), which are hormone-free and can be used by people with a history of breast cancer.
Other medicines that may help, like HRT, are generally not recommended for people who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer or who are at high risk for breast cancer. Medicines used to treat some other conditions, such as high blood pressure or depression, may also offer some relief.
