Breast Cancer Survivors in Study of Chinese Herbs Therapy for Hot Flashes

Chinese herbals are being tested by researchers at the University of Connecticut as a potential therapy for hot flashes experienced by some breast cancer survivors.

Hormone replacement therapy has been the most common treatment for hot flashes, but women who have had breast cancer are advised not to take hormone replacement therapy as it has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer recurrence.

"Many women, who have been treated for breast cancer, come into my office justifiably complaining of frequent, extremely uncomfortable, and often embarrassing hot flashes," said Dr. Jonathan Sporn, medical oncologist and lead researcher of the study.

"The only non-hormonal treatment that's been shown to help is the antidepressant venlafaxine, which may have side effects," said Sporn. "Generally, patients have been disappointed with over-the-counter herbal therapies, but I've had several patients report positive benefits from personalized Chinese herbal therapy programs."

Sporn has begun a study to test the effectiveness of an herbal program, comparing it with venlafaxine or a placebo. Chinese herbologist Laura Mignosa from the Connecticut Institute for Herbal Studies is assisting with the study.

Chinese medicine is based on determining patterns of disharmonies in the body through observation, listening, questioning, touching and smelling, explained Mignosa. "Yin-yang is the basic principle of balance in the health of the body. Yang represents the raising or heating properties of the body and yin the fluid or cooling energy."

Mignosa will prepare mixtures of several herbs based on individual patient assessments. "You have to determine whether there's an excess in Yin or Yang when balance is disrupted. Breast cancer survivors have several common patterns, each of which suggests a potential therapeutic role for certain Chinese herbs," said Mignosa.

Women who have a history of breast cancer, and are either currently taking tamoxifen or have premature menopause induced by chemotherapy, may be eligible to participate in the study. Study participants will be on each treatment for a period of two months. They will answer weekly questionnaires and make periodic visits to the University of Connecticut Health Center.

Other sources: University of Connecticut