Cancer HorizonsAll NewsBlogsCaregivingDiet and ExerciseFinancialPsychosocialRecipesSexual HealthSide EffectSponsoredSurvivorship
All VideosCURE ConnectionsCURE Expert Connections®CURE Speaking OutCURE TVEducated Patient Sound BitesOn Demand: Webinars
Conference Coverage Conference Listing
CURE AdventuresCURE AwardsEducated Patient In Person EducationEducated Patient Virtual Education
Advocacy GroupsArt GalleryClinical Trial CornerHeal®PartnersPodcastsPublicationsShare Your Story
Subscribe
Blood CancersBlood CancersBlood CancersBlood Cancers
Brain Cancer
Breast CancerBreast Cancer
Childhood Cancers
Gastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal Cancers
Genitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary Cancers
Gynecologic CancerGynecologic CancerGynecologic Cancer
Head & Neck Cancer
LeukemiaLeukemiaLeukemia
Lung Cancer
LymphomaLymphomaLymphomaLymphoma
Rare CancersRare Cancers
Sarcoma
Skin Cancer/Melanoma
Thyroid Cancer
Spotlight -
  • Blogs
  • Breast Cancer Webinar Series
  • Cancer Horizons
  • Clinical Trial Corner
  • Heal®
  • Publications
  • Videos
Blood CancersBlood CancersBlood CancersBlood Cancers
Brain Cancer
Breast CancerBreast Cancer
Childhood Cancers
Gastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal CancersGastrointestinal Cancers
Genitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary CancersGenitourinary Cancers
Gynecologic CancerGynecologic CancerGynecologic Cancer
Head & Neck Cancer
LeukemiaLeukemiaLeukemia
Lung Cancer
LymphomaLymphomaLymphomaLymphoma
Rare CancersRare Cancers
Sarcoma
Skin Cancer/Melanoma
Thyroid Cancer
    • Subscribe
Advertisement

Article

May 3, 2022

Hot Weather, Hot Flashes, Hot Mess: Dealing With Cancer-Related Hot Flashes in the Summer Months

Author(s):

Liz McSpadden

I used to love spending time outdoors during the warm weather, but when I started getting hot flashes after my cancer-related oophorectomy, enjoying hot days got a bit trickier.

Spring is upon us, and that means summer is just around the corner! It’ll soon be the season for shorts, tank tops, flip flops, 85-degree days and humidity where I live in Chicago. For the fortunate people who enjoy the warm weather, I envy you and wish that I, too, could enjoy it.

Pre-cancer, I loved summer, and you’d find me outside all the time. My husband and I are hikers, avid kayakers and we love enjoying the outdoors with our pups.

However, with my cancer-induced hot flashes, being outside in the hot weather is really just a hot mess. When I say hot, it's not attractive. It’s sweating, unable to cool down, drinking a ton of water and wishing I had an air conditioner attached to me permanently. It’s breathing a lot, panting like a dog, stopping for breaks, slathering sunscreen on every 15 minutes, staying out of the sun constantly for my radiated skin, and just thinking to myself, “Why do I even bother?”

The truth is that even all the complaining and my being a hot mess, it’s still do-able. I travel with lots of sunscreen, wide-brim hats to cover my face, long sleeve swimsuits and breathable hiking shirts, portable fans around my neck, cooling rags and sweat rags. My hot flashes still occur in hot weather, and they can get bad, but being on Effexor (venlafaxine), a medication that helps with hot flashes, has really helped some of the extreme ones.

My hot flashes are caused by my ovaries being removed because my cancer fed on estrogen. Alcohol makes them even worse for me, so I avoid drinking a lot of the time. I sleep with fans, and wear layers constantly so I can adjust my own temperature easily.

My hot flashes won't ever end, but I want to be able to live with them and still enjoy the outdoors during hotter months.

Cancer has taught me so much about listening to my body, and if I feel overheated, I can’t ignore it like I used to. This new life with cancer is learning how to live, adapt and continue surviving with all the other warriors.

I hope to do so with grace, grit and gratitude.

For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here.

Newsletter

Stay up to date on cancer updates, research and education

Subscribe Now!
Related Videos
Picture of LaShae D. Rolle
Image of women with text.
Photo of Jake Messier
Related Content
Advertisement
Laura Yeager is a two-time breast cancer survivor. Catch up on all of Laura's blogs here!
August 8th 2025

A Moment of Kindness I’ll Never Forget During Cancer Treatment

Laura Yeager
cancer horizons podcast logo: a white microphone on a blue background
August 8th 2025

Cannabis Talks During Cancer, Cardiometabolic Comorbidities and Current Research

Alex Biese Brielle Benyon
An AI-based image analysis model has more accurately predicted biomarkers and outcomes vs with conventional methods: © stock.adobe.com.
August 8th 2025

AI May Better Predict Cancer Biomarkers and Patient Survival

Alex Biese
Guidelines for Childhood Neuroblastoma, FDA Decisions and More
August 8th 2025

Guidelines for Childhood Neuroblastoma, FDA Decisions and More

Alex Biese Brielle Benyon
Image of debbie.
August 8th 2025

A Letter to My Children Who Loved Their Sister Through Cancer

Debbie Legault
Ron Cooper received a diagnosis of prostate cancer in 2014 and is currently in active surveillance. Catch up on all of Ron's blogs here!
August 8th 2025

Emerging from Isolation After Cancer Reaped Many Rewards

Ron Cooper
Related Content
Advertisement
Laura Yeager is a two-time breast cancer survivor. Catch up on all of Laura's blogs here!
August 8th 2025

A Moment of Kindness I’ll Never Forget During Cancer Treatment

Laura Yeager
cancer horizons podcast logo: a white microphone on a blue background
August 8th 2025

Cannabis Talks During Cancer, Cardiometabolic Comorbidities and Current Research

Alex Biese Brielle Benyon
An AI-based image analysis model has more accurately predicted biomarkers and outcomes vs with conventional methods: © stock.adobe.com.
August 8th 2025

AI May Better Predict Cancer Biomarkers and Patient Survival

Alex Biese
Guidelines for Childhood Neuroblastoma, FDA Decisions and More
August 8th 2025

Guidelines for Childhood Neuroblastoma, FDA Decisions and More

Alex Biese Brielle Benyon
Image of debbie.
August 8th 2025

A Letter to My Children Who Loved Their Sister Through Cancer

Debbie Legault
Ron Cooper received a diagnosis of prostate cancer in 2014 and is currently in active surveillance. Catch up on all of Ron's blogs here!
August 8th 2025

Emerging from Isolation After Cancer Reaped Many Rewards

Ron Cooper
About Us
Advertise / Support
Editorial Board
Contact Us
CancerNetwork.com
TargetedOnc.com
OncLive.com
OncNursingNews.com
Terms & Conditions
Privacy
Do Not Sell My Information
Contact Info

2 Commerce Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512

609-716-7777

© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.