LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Breast cancer patients who report having hot flashes are less likely to suffer a recurrence of the disease, according to a UC San Diego study released Tuesday.

Doctors at the Moores Cancer Center found that patients who reported hot flashes have a 12.9 percent chance of a recurrence, as opposed to a 21 percent possibility for those without hot flashes.

The correlation is stronger than other factors, including age, hormone receptor status or the advancement of the disease at diagnosis, according to the researchers.

"This study provides the first evidence that hot flashes may be an indicator of a better prognosis in women with early-stage breast cancer," said John Pierce, the senior author of the study and director of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at Moores Cancer Center.

The center's medical director, Joanne Mortime, said hot flashes are a common problem for breast cancer survivors.

"About two-thirds of women with breast cancer say hot flashes compromise their quality of life," Mortimer said. "The most common request for additional treatment we get is for relief from these symptoms."

The study results were published online by the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment and were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago.