Non-hormonal management of vasomotor symptoms during and after primary breast cancer treatment
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Non-hormonal management of vasomotor symptoms during and after primary breast cancer treatment

Antonia Gore Breast care nurse, Luton and Dunstable University Hospital, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Berkhamsted, England

Why you should read this article:
  • To understand how vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes and night sweats) can affect patients during and after breast cancer treatment

  • To update your knowledge of the evidence supporting various strategies for managing vasomotor symptoms

  • To be aware of the pharmacological and non-pharmacological options that may reduce vasomotor symptoms in patients with breast cancer

Vasomotor symptoms – that is, hot flushes and night sweats – are commonly experienced by patients during and after treatment for breast cancer and can negatively affect their quality of life and treatment concordance. Treatment of vasomotor symptoms in this patient cohort is particularly challenging because hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is seldom prescribed for them due to safety concerns. This article provides an overview of the evidence for the various non-hormonal treatments available for vasomotor symptoms in people with breast cancer, with the aim of enabling nurses to support those experiencing this unpleasant side effect more confidently and effectively.

Cancer Nursing Practice. doi: 10.7748/cnp.2025.e1883

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

@antoniadean

Correspondence

antoniagore74@gmail.com

Conflict of interest

None declared

Gore A (2025) Non-hormonal management of vasomotor symptoms during and after primary breast cancer treatment. Cancer Nursing Practice. doi: 10.7748/cnp.2025.e1883

Published online: 27 January 2025

Want to read more?

RCNi-Plus
Already have access? Log in

or

3-month trial offer for £5.25/month

Subscribe today and save 50% on your first three months
RCNi Plus users have full access to the following benefits:
  • Unlimited access to all 10 RCNi Journals
  • RCNi Learning featuring over 175 modules to easily earn CPD time
  • NMC-compliant RCNi Revalidation Portfolio to stay on track with your progress
  • Personalised newsletters tailored to your interests
  • A customisable dashboard with over 200 topics
Subscribe

Are you a student? Our student subscription has content especially for you.
Find out more