Schow D A, Renfer L G, Rozanski T A, Thompson I M
Department of Surgery, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Tex 78234-6200, USA.
South Med J. 1998 Sep;91(9):855-7. doi: 10.1097/00007611-199809000-00010.
We sought to determine the prevalence of hot flushes after neoadjuvant hormonal therapy.
Forty-three patients who received neoadjuvant hormonal therapy before radical prostatectomy were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding hot flushes.
Complete information was available for 35 of the 43 patients. No hot flushes were noted in 20%; in 69%, hot flushes were noted during treatment but resolved after termination of treatment; and in 11%, hot flushes continued for at least 3 months after cessation of hormonal therapy. Analyzing the data with respect to duration of hormonal therapy showed that patients receiving neoadjuvant hormonal therapy for more than 4 months had the highest incidence of persistent hot flushes.
Hot flushes will be noted in 80% of patients who receive neoadjuvant hormonal therapy. In approximately 10%, hot flushes will continue for a significant period after hormonal therapy is terminated. Patients should be apprised of this potential side effect.
