Hot flashes in prostate cancer: state of the science.

The lack of progress concerning the concept of the hot flash experience in men is an indication of the need for exploration of this phenomenon. The hot flash experience in men is a problem that can no longer be ignored. The results of this literature review will provide a foundation for additional development of the concept and facilitate further inquiry into the phenomenon. The purpose of the article is to provide the current state of the science of hot flashes related to androgen ablation treatment in prostate cancer patients; sleep, sweating, cognitive impairment, and the implications on health-related quality of life. Due to the sparse literature on this concept in men, information is extrapolated from the literature on female breast cancer patients treated with hormones and on menopausal women.