Sleep News

Insomnia is ''prevalent'' among cancer patients

By Matt Gardner

Cancer patients who receive chemotherapy find it much harder to get a good night''s sleep in bed each night, according to a new report from the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Studying 823 people, it was discovered that people in this predicament were three times as likely to be hit with the prospect of insomnia, with those suffering from lung and breast cancer being even more susceptible than others to a lack of rest.

It was explained that once people experience sleep problems or fatigue, many begin taking naps or go to bed earlier, sustaining the problem and making the task of restoring sleep at night "counter-productive".

Oxana Palesh, a research assistant professor of radiation oncology at the medical centre''s James P Wilmot Cancer Center, who was the lead author of the paper, said: "These numbers are very high and something we can''t ignore.

"The good news is that insomnia is a very treatable problem that can be addressed quickly so it doesn''t compound other symptoms."

However, medication may also be an antagonist for older members of the community who are currently facing cancer, as a new study by the University of British Columbia found that sedatives can lead to an increased chance of falls.