World Sleep Day 2024: Why cancer treatment can lead to insomnia, anxiety and fatigue

Sleep cycle: Daytime fatigue leading to napping can disrupt the sleep cycle, creating a vicious cycle of increased tiredness

Cancer treatment can be extremely challenging, often causing profound fatigue that goes beyond typical tiredness. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can leave patients feeling exhausted to the point where simply calling it as "tiring" doesn't do justice to the full extent of the fatigue a patient goes through. Moreover, many people undergoing treatment struggle with sleep disturbances, compounding the challenges they face. These disruptions can stem from various factors, such as alterations to circadian rhythms due to treatment or heightened feelings of anxiety and discomfort.

Amidst these difficulties, World Sleep Day 2024 is a timely reminder of the importance of addressing sleep issues during cancer treatment.  Implementing strategies like establishing a consistent bedtime routine, staying physically active through the day, and openly discussing sleep challenges with healthcare providers can significantly enhance sleep quality.

Oncologist Ram Batra underscores several common reasons why patients may experience insufficient sleep during cancer treatment.

Medications: Many cancer treatments, such as corticosteroids like dexamethasone, are used to alleviate pain and swelling. However, they can impact sleep significantly.

Treatment side-effects: The body undergoes considerable stress during treatment, often resulting in lingering pain and discomfort.

Tubing: Following certain procedures, the buildup of fluids may require drainage tubing. These tubes are not conducive to comfortable sleep.

Napping: Daytime fatigue leading to napping can disrupt the sleep cycle, creating a vicious cycle of increased tiredness.

Stress: The anxiety and uncertainty surrounding cancer can understandably keep individuals up at night.

Tips to improve sleep

Good sleep hygiene is essential for a restful night. Here are ten suggestions to try:

1. Keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and cool.
2. Maintain a consistent sleep schedule, going to bed and waking up at the same time each day.
3. Limit daytime naps to one hour or less.
4. Engage in mild to moderate physical activity during the day, such as a 20-minute walk.
5. Reduce overall caffeine intake, especially in the late afternoon and evening.
6. Avoid alcohol, as it can impact sleep quality.
7. Minimise screen time an hour before bed to help your brain relax.
8. Refrain from late-night snacking and heavy meals before bedtime.
9. Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation or gentle yoga.
10. Journal earlier in the day to alleviate worries before bedtime.