Hot Flushes (vasomotor symptoms) are a serious problem. They impact significantly on daily life and sleep quality, affecting employment, relationships and quality of life. The only effective treatment for hot flushes is oestrogen which is contraindicated in the 75% of breast cancer patients whose cancer is oestrogen driven. There are an estimated 550,000 people living in the UK today who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and up to 70% women experience disabling hot flushes after treatment for breast cancer. That’s a lot of hot flushes. These can continue for years after treatment and probably contribute to the 50% of patients who have stopped taking their life-saving antioestrogen drugs before 5 years. Recent studies have shown that those who do not complete 5 years of adjuvant therapy have a 20% excess breast cancer mortality.

Following a patient led session at the UK Breast Intergroup meeting in February 2013, a Working Party on Symptom Management was established by the NCRI Breast Clinical Studies Group. The Working Party and held its first meeting on May 9th 2013. Members of the group all have a particular interest in hot flushes and include patients, oncology, psychology, gynaecology, acupuncture and the voluntary sector.