Overview

Sleep-related dysfunctions are a common side effect of cancer. A high level of stress, non-nutritious diet, pollution, alcohol and substance abuse, etc hampers normal sleep patterns. However, various disease conditions are associated with sleep problems. Even moderate pain in any body part can cause sleep problems. 

Why Sleep problems are common in cancer?

Cancer and cancer treatment are known for an extreme painful situations. Pain causes uneasiness in the body. Different types of cancer such as breast cancer, brain cancer, lung cancer, a blood cancer in their advanced stage and during treatment cause insomnia.

How can we define a sleep problem?

Insomnia (lack of sleep) is simply called sleeplessness. When a person takes more than 30 minutes to fall asleep or awakes from sleep again and again during nighttime, it may be insomnia.

Sign and symptoms of sleep problem

• Difficulty in falling asleep during the night
• Waking up multiple times during the night
• Waking up early in the morning and not able to fall asleep
• Unrefreshing sleep
• Irritability in your behavior
• Drowsiness during daytime

How cancer treatment causes sleep problem

A cancer patient during treatment has to undergo various therapies depending upon the type of cancer and stage of cancer he is in. These include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgeries, and other medications.

Radiation therapy:

In this treatment, a person is exposed to radiation. These rays are given on the body part having cancer cells. It is a degenerative process due to which the nerves get stimulated and cause sleep-related problems.

Chemotherapy:

Chemotherapy is a medical treatment. Treating cancer with strong medications is the main feature of this therapy. The only difference is these medicines are highly comprised of hypnotics, sedatives, steroids, and narcotics. Because of the presence of these components, a cancer patient who is under this type of treatment may experience sleep disorders like insomnia and hypersomnia.

Other medications:

Hormonal therapy, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, corticosteroids, sedatives, and tranquilizers affect the sleep pattern.

Ways to manage sleep problems

Supportive care

Sleep problems are side effects of cancer and cancer treatment. Discuss the problem with family and healthcare professionals. Supportive care may improve sleep disturbance.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy works on reducing anxiety due to sleep disturbance. The therapy includes stimulus control, sleep restriction, and relaxation therapy.

Good sleep habits

Adopting good sleep habits is beneficial to correct the sleeping pattern.

Nutritious diet and exercise

A high protein diet and eliminating spicy food, alcohol, smoking, caffeine is good for improving sleep disturbance. A nutritious diet along with daily exercise in a routine is good for better sleep.

Medicines for sleep

If therapies do not work, drugs are used to correct sleep problems. The drugs used depend upon the condition of sleep problems.

About Mozocare

Mozocare is a medical access platform for hospitals and clinics to assist patients to access the best medical care at affordable prices. It offers medical information, medical treatment, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, laboratory consumables, and other allied services.

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