Jennifer Matthews: Clarence Reed wouldn't even have thought about mowing his lawn last summer.
Clarence Reed: If it was hot, and the sun was shining, I just didn't dare. I'd break out in a rash in just a few minutes
Jennifer Matthews :Clarence needed treatment for prostate cancer, but the hormone injections he received left him with hot flashes, a common side effect.
Female Speaker: Just go ahead and relax.
Jennifer Matthews: Now, Clarence is one of 25 prostate cancer patients in a clinical trial at Oregon Health and Science University, a follow-up to a study done in Sweden.
Meg Hayes: This was a study of seven men, and they experienced a 50-70% reduction in the frequency and intensity of hot flashes.
Jennifer Matthews: Hot flashes are associated with low levels of the feel good hormone called serotonin.
Meg Hayes: We're hoping to increase the levels of the serotonin and its metabolites throughout the body, and we're going to be checking that through a series of blood tests and urine tests.
Jennifer Matthews : Patients also keep track of their hot flashes in a daily diary. Clarence has gone from up to ten hot flashes a day, down to less than two a week.
Meg Hayes: Do you think this is improving your sleep quality at night? Are you sleeping better?
Clarence Reed: Sure did. Cool. I am not waking up.
Jennifer Matthews: Clarence isn't the only patient reporting changes.
Tomasz M. Beer: So far, the first three out of three men had significant reductions in hot flashes after four weeks of acupuncture, but these are very preliminary results.
Jennifer Matthews : Conclusive results will be available next year. For now, Clarence says he's just happy to be mowing his lawn. This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.
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