Hot flashes more than a year after ending treatment

It sounds like his testosterone is not returning. You should definitely get a test testosterone test to find out what the level is. I used to get terrible hot flashes from ADT, Fortunately, they have pretty much stopped even though I am still on ADT and my testosterone is really low. I used to wake up at night with the sheet wet under me, That stopped with the device I mentioned below.

If he continues to have hot flashes, and it turns out his testosterone is very low you could get testosterone injections, which would raise it so that the hot flashes would go away.

I use an Embrlabs.com Wave 2 Device to stop hot flashes. I’ve used it for over five years. One of the best features is, it has a night mode which last seven or eight hours and really stops the hot flashes and hot sweats at night. You can get one to see if it works, they have a 60 day money back guarantee. I have instructions for configuring it for ideal usage. If you get one, you could put a message in here and I will give you those instructions. I beta tested the device a few years ago and also work with them on any fixing bugs in their Software.

Thank you. His testosterone was low at his last oncologist visit. I think he would be leery of getting injections but I will raise that thought as well as the device you described.

I would think that raising one's testosterone would be counter-productive. As it was explained to me by my oncologist, the whole purpose of ADT is to lower one's testosterone so that the cancer cells can't reproduce.

@dkgibson
While some people can’t have testosterone boosts without the PSA going up, I have heard from many people that did do it without that problem.

It’s something that needs to be discussed with their doctor.

My experience seems unusual: On the six months, I was on ADT, there were about five times I woke up at night feeling like my legs were wet from sweat but they weren't. The discomfort would last a few minutes then I would be back to sleep. I'm off my short-term ADT for more than one month now. Late last week and this week, I woke up several times feeling hot for a few minutes but no sweat. These are the closest to a hot flash that I was prepared for in April thru June. Has anyone had a similar experience, short bursts of feeling hot? And did it get worse over time post-ADT?

Google says: "Taking testosterone with Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) is a complex and highly specific treatment that should only be done within a clinical trial for certain types of advanced or resistant prostate cancer. The goal is often to temporarily raise testosterone levels to a point where they can have an anti-cancer effect or to see if the cancer is sensitized to further treatment, and this requires strict medical supervision. Combining testosterone with ADT is not a standard or approved treatment for most prostate cancer patients and carries a risk of advancing the disease."

Here's what our own Mayo Clinic says:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hormone-therapy-for-prostate-cancer/about/pac-20384737#:~:text=Your%20healthcare%20professional%20likely%20will,cancer%20grow%20or%20get%20worse.

@truly520, you are well-advised to discuss with your husband's oncologist. All information shared by members on the Mayo Clinic Connect is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

As you know, the purpose of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), also known as hormone therapy, for prostate cancer is to lower and/or block testosterone. Most prostate cancer cells need testosterone to grow. ADT stops testosterone from being made or from reaching prostate cancer cells. This causes prostate cancer cells to die or to grow more slowly.

Whether testosterone levels return after treatment varies from person to person. This study sought to analyze the variability that determine the return of testosterone due to factors like age and length of treatment.
- Testosterone Recovery after Androgen Deprivation Therapy in Prostate Cancer: Building a Predictive Model https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9826908/

You mention that your husband's treatment ended a year ago and that his testosterone level remains low or neglible. From a clinical point of view, that is desirable. From a symptom management point of view, hot flashes can range from annoying to debilitating and seriously affect quality of life, especially if he can't sleep.

All that to say, it worth a discussion with the oncologist about testosterone levels, possible strategies to manage the hot flashes, and the risks and benefits of each.

Here are some related discussions that you might find helpful:
- ADT and Insomnia: What's helps you sleep? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/adt-and-insomnia/
- Relief for hot flashes during the night https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/relief-for-hot-flashes-during-the-night/

@vircet, sounds like your system is still regulating after stopping ADT a few weeks ago. Is it the hot feeling that is waking you? Or are you waking for other reasons and notice the warmth?

Temperatures are changing in some parts of the continent. Have you turned on the furnace yet? Do you keep your room cool?

@colleenyoung Hi Colleen,
My furnace is on, set at 72 degF. It's cold for me so I get under the blanket to sleep. Then I would wake up once or twice a night, feeling too hot; I would remove the blanket but after a while I would feel cold again and get under the blanket. This doesn't happen every day, unusual isn't it? My concern is if in somebody else experience this can get worse over time? I hope not.
Thanks for your time.

Mine took around 18 months to stop. The started to really tone down at 12 months then it was a few here and there. Totally clear and feeling good at 21 months. STAY STRONG.