Quality Sleep Helps Fight Cancer

Good quality, healthy sleep is important to everyone, especially for individuals battling cancer. Your sleep quality can determine how well your body fights cancer. Fatigue and disturbed sleep are two of the most common complaints of cancer patients. The most frequently described issues of disturbed sleep are:

• Insomnia
• Poor Quality Sleep
• Short Sleep Duration
• Low Sleep Efficiency – as measured in a Polysomnography (PSG) or sleep study.

Poor Sleep Interferes with Outcome

Previously, it has been thought that cancer-related fatigue is a normal and transient reaction to cancer and its treatment. However, there is more to this story, and more research has come to finding that sleep quality directly influences outcome. It has been shown that:

• Fatigued patients are less likely to comply with the therapy.
• Fatigued patients are likely to miss appointments.
• Fatigued patients complain of more pain.
• Sleep disorders may increase inflammation, which can influence cancer growth.
• Sleep disorders may impact immune function.

Sleep Better and Fight Pain More Effectively

Pain is a significant factor in cancer and it can easily diminish sleep quality. However, how well individuals deal with pain and stressors is directly linked to their sleep. Those that sleep poorly are not going to be as effective at fighting pain, as those that sleep well. Unfortunately, a number of the medications prescribed to combat pain, such as Codeine and Morphine, have also been known to disrupt sleep. Sleep hygiene or good sleep habits can improve sleep quality and quantity in cancer patients with pain. Below are some tips to fight pain and improve sleep:

1. Limit caffeine intake. Don’t drink coffee late afternoon or in the evening.
2. Limit alcohol consumption.
3. Don’t exercise late in the evening.
4. Take a nap, when you can, but not too long, as that may interfere with your nighttime sleep.
5. Relax before bedtime. Breathing techniques can be helpful.
6. Talk to your doctor about your pain medications, as well as your sleep quality and sleep quantity.

Circadian Rhythms Influence the Effectiveness of Chemotherapy

You body clock or circadian rhythm is a key component in the daily sleep/wake cycle. Circadian processes refer to biological activities that occur “around the day” on a 24-hour cycle. The oldest, most powerful circadian process is our relationship to light and dark, or wake and sleep.

This cycle of sleep and wake has been found to be of great importance regarding the timing of chemotherapy regimens. Studies have shown that both toxicity and antitumor activity of cancer drugs are time dependent. This indicates that the timing of the administration of chemotherapy is important. Research has shown that tolerability can be increased and side effects decreased if chemotherapy is administered at the right time in the circadian rhythm. By appropriately timing chemotherapy cancer patients report:

• Milder nausea
• Less fatigue
• Longer survival
• Improved Quality of Life
• Better able to tolerate higher doses with fewer side-effects

Conversely, if chemotherapy is administered at an inappropriate time in the circadian cycle, the medication may not be as effective and result in greater side-effects.

Sleep Specialists Can Help

Underlying sleep disorders in cancer patients should not be ignored. Sleep disorders reduce sleep quality and quantity and can interfere with treatment regimens and recovery. Because sleep disruptions and fatigue are the most common complaints of cancer patients, sleep should not be taken for granted. Restorative sleep is essential for all.

Sleep specialists can help identify underlying sleep disorders and effectively treat them. They can also provide treatments to help entrain, or strengthen the circadian rhythm that is very important for the sleep/wake cycle.