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

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.