The short answer
Hot flashes are sudden warm feelings over the face, neck, or chest and may cause sweating or flushing. Night sweats are hot flashes during sleep. NCI notes they are common in people with cancer and survivors and may be caused by surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, opioids, steroids, and other medicines.
Hot flashes and night sweats are common in people with cancer and survivors.
Cancer treatment can trigger hormone changes that cause symptoms.
Medicines, sleep disruption, pain, mood, and menopause-related changes may all matter.
Ask which nonhormonal options are safe for your cancer and medicines.
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The full explanation.
The short answer
Hot flashes are sudden warm feelings, often in the face, neck, or chest, that may come with sweating or flushing. When they happen during sleep, people often call them night sweats. They can happen during cancer treatment or after treatment ends.
Why cancer treatment can cause them
NCI notes that hot flashes and night sweats can be caused by surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and certain medicines. Treatments that lower estrogen or testosterone are common triggers.
What to track
Track when symptoms happen, how often, whether they wake you, what medicines you take, whether fever or weight loss is present, and whether food, alcohol, stress, room temperature, or timing of medicine seems linked.
Why treatment history matters
Hormonal options may not be safe for every cancer or survivor. Breast, prostate, uterine, ovarian, and other hormone-sensitive cancers need careful medication review before using hormones or supplements marketed for menopause.
What to ask next
Ask what cause best fits your symptoms, whether nonhormonal medicines or behavior changes could help, and when night sweats should be checked for infection, recurrence, thyroid problems, or another medical cause.
Words to know
Tap any term to see what it means.
Common questions
Can men have hot flashes during cancer treatment?
Yes. NCI notes that treatment affecting testosterone, such as some prostate cancer treatments, can cause hot flashes and night sweats.
Can breast cancer survivors use hormone therapy for hot flashes?
That depends on the cancer and treatment history. Ask your oncology team before using hormonal products.
Questions to ask your doctor
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