Sleep is widely recognized as a crucial aspect of one's overall health. For individuals diagnosed with cancer, sleep disorders have emerged as an additional source of stress.
The myth that poor sleep causes cancer to recur or metastasize adds to the stress of cancer patients. But does sleep deprivation really cause cancer to recur or metastasize? The answer is no.
"Sleep does not directly affect cancer," said Youn So-young, a professor of psychiatry at Asan Medical Center, on the AMC’s YouTube channel.
"Being diagnosed with cancer does not mean you need to be more sensitive to sleep problems.”
Cancer patients who are anxious about sleep may believe that they must sleep from a certain time to a certain time, or that they must sleep for seven hours to be healthy, and they try too hard to do so, Youn noted.
However, these thoughts can lead to increased worry and anxiety about sleep, causing them to spend more time lying down even when they don't feel like sleeping, and to feel more unwell the next day.
Of course, insomnia often occurs during cancer treatment, not only due to the mental stress of depression, anxiety, and fear, but also due to pain, physical discomfort, and treatment side effects. So, what can you do about insomnia?
"Most people will experience episodic insomnia at one time or another," Youn said. "But learning about good sleep habits early on and trying to stick to them as much as possible can help prevent insomnia from getting worse or becoming chronic."
Insomnia is more likely to occur during the day when you are tired and lethargic from chemotherapy or radiation, which is why it is not advisable to stay in bed during the day to compensate for insomnia at night.
"If you can move around, you should avoid lying down as much as possible during the day, stay active in a well-lit area, and do moderate exercise," Youn advised.
Insomnia can also be a symptom of depression or anxiety, which is why sleeping pills are often used indiscriminately without addressing the underlying cause.
"At this point, consulting a sleep specialist to determine the cause of your insomnia and address it will help improve your sleep," she said.