Health Information Your Doctor Might Not Even Know About....: July 2018

Sleeping and Mesothelioma

Those who have cancer may suffer from multiple sleeping problems because of their condition, their prescribed medications, and their treatments, but this puts them in a tough situation. Getting a good night's sleep helps fight cancer, so those diagnosed with mesothelioma can benefit from getting the rest that is necessary for their body. Here are some of the common sleep problems associated with cancer and information on how increased sleep can benefit patients.

Hypersomnia
Hypersomnia, or excessive drowsiness during the daytime, is a common side effect of cancer and/or its treatment. Even cancer patients who sleep for eight to ten hours at night, may still fall asleep during the day. Regardless of the amount of sleep a patient gets, he or she will never feel relief even after sleeping at night or taking naps. Many confuse fatigue with hypersomnia, but they are two different things. Hypersomnia is a lack of sleep while fatigue is a lack of energy.

Insomnia
Cancer itself does not cause insomnia, but many of the symptoms do, as well as side effects from treatment and medication. Some examples of symptoms that cause insomnia include:

chronic pain
breathing difficulty
chronic coughing
feelings about living with cancer including fear, anxiety, and grief

Nightmares
Many cancer patients report experiencing vivid nightmares once their treatment starts. This may be caused by treatment and medications, but also may be driven by fears about having cancer. Regardless, when cancer patients fear falling asleep, it creates an unhealthy cycle of exhaustion where the patient is trying to catch up on sleep during the day because of scary nights.

How does sleep fight cancer?

Sleeping well is important for one's overall health; when a person doesn't get enough sleep they are at higher risk for obesity, diabetes, depression, cardiovascular issues, and cancer. In a recent study, researchers found lack of sleep increases the risk of cancer recurrence. Sleep specifically affects cancer through the immune system. When one doesn't get enough sleep, it weakens their immune system which allows cancer to spread and tumors to grow more aggressively.

How can cancer patients ensure that they are getting enough rest?

Sleep issues associated with cancer come from different sources, so cancer patients need to speak openly and honestly about their struggles with their doctor. Doctors can prescribe medications that may help with sleep, especially in the cases of hypersomnia and insomnia, but if the sleep deprivation is induced by fear or anxiety, patients may need to seek counseling with a therapist. Attending support groups with other patients may also alleviate anxiety and fear about cancer that disrupts sleep. Other tips that may help include turning off electronics at least an hour before bedtime. Learning and practicing meditation and associated deep breathing exercises may also help with sleep. Reading a book for a short time before sleeping may serve to reduce fear and anxiety, so one can fall asleep easier. Regardless, not getting the proper amount of sleep is a serious health issue for those who are at risk for cancer, those who are undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and other treatments, and those who are in remission from their cancer.

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Contributed by Anonymous Author(s)

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Disclaimer - Article is for information only and is not medical advice.

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

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Disclaimer - Article is for information only and is not medical advice.

Sunday, July 15, 2018

I was pleased to see professionals considering the psychological/emotional component of physical symptoms, especially for chronic conditions, such as Cancer. I'd like to see this approach used on all chronic conditions.

I thought I'd learn more about Psycho-Oncology and here's what I found. I hope you find this information helpful.

The picture shown is of Jimmie C. Holland - a founder of the field of psycho-oncology.

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