The purpose of this study is to determine whether hypnosis is effective in reducing hot flashes in breast cancer survivors. This study will also determine whether patients who can more easily be hypnotized will have less often and less severe hot flashes following hypnosis treatment.

Hot flashes are a significant problem for many breast cancer survivors, often resulting in disrupted sleep, anxiety, and decreased quality of life. Estrogen replacement therapy is standard treatment for hot flashes in women with no history of breast cancer. However, estrogens have been associated with increased risk of breast cancer, and therefore are not recommended for breast cancer survivors because of the increased risk of redeveloping breast cancer. Safe and effective interventions are needed to help breast cancer survivors who experience hot flashes. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of hypnosis in reducing the frequency and severity of hot flashes in breast cancer survivors.

Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to receive either five weekly sessions of hypnosis or no treatment. Participants will complete daily diaries detailing the frequency and severity of their hot flashes. Participants will be asked to complete weekly self-report questionnaires to monitor anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and sexual functioning.

Ages Eligible for Study:  18 Years and above,  Genders Eligible for Study:  Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• History of primary breast cancer without evidence of current detectable disease
• Self-reported history of at least 14 hot flashes per week within 1 month prior to study entry
• Life expectancy greater than 6 months
• Able to attend weekly hypnosis sessions

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current treatment for hot flashes
• Current treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy
• Current hormonal therapy other than anti-hormonal agents for breast cancer
• Use of anti-hormonal agents or other therapies for breast cancer within 1 month prior to study entry
• Medical or psychiatric condition which may interfere with the study
• Current treatment with hypnosis