Although everyone needs 7-9 hours of sleep, it is absolutely essential for cancer patients. People undergoing cancer treatment may have difficulty sleeping or experience changes in their sleep patterns due to treatment and medication side effects, pain, stress, hospital stays, etc. However, the quality and duration of their sleep is linked to how well their body can fight cancer and respond to treatment.
Research has shown that poor sleep has caused increased pain and complications in women after breast cancer surgery. Another study reveals that obstructive sleep apnea aggravates cancer, spreading it to other body parts. These studies prove a correlation between sleep and cancer, suggesting the need to learn about this hot topic.
Lack of sleep can alter the balance of two crucial hormones that regulate cancer cells - cortisol and melatonin. Cortisol controls the immune system’s function, including the release of cells that help battle cancer. It usually increases in the morning after a good night’s sleep and declines across the day. On the other hand, melatonin is produced by the brain while we sleep. It has antioxidant characteristics that prevent cell damage that can lead to cancer.
Studies reveal that poor sleep increases the risk of aggressive breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in older men.
According to research, people who sleep less than six hours have an increased cancer risk. While short sleep duration elevates the risk of colon polyps turning into cancer, long sleep duration (beyond 9 hours) is the major risk factor for breast cancer and liver cancer.
It is the body’s intrinsic clock running 24 hours a day. As it is responsible for cell growth and division, its disruption may lead to abnormal cell growth that could turn into cancer.
Sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), impact cancer progression and recovery. A study reveals that severe OSA can increase the risk of death in patients with stage 3 and stage 4 lung cancers. Severe OSA also contributes to other cancers, such as kidney, uterus, melanoma, lung, colorectal, etc.
Yes! Good quality sleep may help improve pain tolerance and remission rates in cancer patients while increasing the efficiency of treatment. Some medicines and treatments (such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy) used to treat cancer can lower your immune system’s function, and insufficient sleep can further weaken your immune system, lowering your body’s ability to fight cancer cells while allowing aggravation of those cells. Therefore, getting plenty of sleep is crucial for cancer patients to expedite recovery.
Sleep deprivation may increase your risk of cancer progression and may also contribute to other health issues, such as depression, anxiety, stress, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. It’s important to get sufficient rest while you are being treated for cancer to allow your body to recover and to minimize your risk of other health issues.
If you are looking for world-class care from experienced oncologists and hematologists, schedule an appointment with us today at Chesapeake Oncology Hematology Associates. Our leading oncologists can provide best-in-class cancer treatment that contributes to quick recovery and improved quality of life.
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