How can a good night's sleep help fight cancer?

Author: Yang Si'e Reviewer: Deng Tianhao Curator: Hunan Medical Chat Production Information: Second Oncology Department, Hunan Province Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine Hospital (Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine).

Title: How can a good night's sleep help fight cancer?

Introduction: Good sleep is vital for cancer patients' recovery, enhancing life quality. Insomnia worsens pain and emotions; consult doctors for safe sleep aids.

Sixty-year-old Aunt Li (a pseudonym) is a patient in the recovery phase after breast cancer surgery. Six months ago, she successfully completed chemotherapy and thought she could relax and recuperate, but unexpectedly found herself trapped by insomnia. The sleeplessness has made her more miserable than during chemotherapy: during the day, she feels dazed, has no interest in anything, and the subtle pain in the surgical area seems intensified. Her mood has become irritable, and she even feels resistant to her rehabilitation treatment.

Director Deng Tianhao of the Department of Oncology at Hunan Provincial Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital (Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine) introduced that cancer patients like Aunt Li, who suffer from insomnia, are not isolated cases. Through scientific adjustment, it is possible to help cancer patients regain lost sleep, laying a solid foundation for recovery.

Tumor Patients and Insomnia: A Pair of Tough "Fellow Sufferers"

1. Weakening immunity: Sleep is a critical period for the repair and enhancement of the immune system. Prolonged insomnia can lead to a decrease in the activity of "natural killer cells," which are responsible for killing tumor cells, giving tumor cells an opportunity to thrive.

2. Increased pain perception: Lack of sleep reduces the body's tolerance to pain, making patients find cancer-related pain even more unbearable.

3. Inducing negative emotions: Insomnia and anxiety, as well as depression, are interrelated and create a vicious cycle that seriously impacts patients' treatment confidence and quality of life.

How can cancer patients regain their "lost sleep"?

1. Establishing a "sleep rhythm" is more important than sleeping more: Try to go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning, even if you didn't sleep well the night before. During the day, avoid taking long naps due to tiredness, as it will only worsen your insomnia at night.

As long as the body permits, one can enjoy more sunshine, take walks, and engage in light activities such as the Eight Sections of Brocade (Ba Duan Jin). Morning sunlight helps to calibrate the biological clock and aids the body in establishing a regular sleep rhythm.

2. Learn to reconcile with "pain": If pain affects your sleep, don’t endure it silently. Consult a doctor in a timely manner and adjust pain medication to be taken before bedtime, ensuring that the medication reaches its optimal effect by the time you fall asleep. Find a comfortable position before bed, using pillows to support your body and alleviate pressure on bony protrusions.

3. Create a "sleep buffer zone": Disconnect from the internet one hour before bedtime to avoid looking at your phone, scrolling through short videos, or researching medical information. Blue light can inhibit melatonin secretion, while negative information can exacerbate anxiety. Consider reading printed books or soaking your feet in warm water to establish a personalized "bedtime relaxation ritual."

4. Scientific management of "eating" and "drinking": Reduce fluid intake 2 to 3 hours before bedtime to minimize nighttime urination; avoid drinking strong tea and coffee in the afternoon; do not overeat or go to bed hungry at dinner to prevent stomach discomfort that could affect sleep.

5. Create a comfortable sleep environment: Use eye masks to block out light and earplugs to reduce noise, making the sleeping area quieter. Maintain an appropriate temperature and humidity, keeping the hospital room or bedroom at a cool temperature of 18-22 degrees Celsius, which is most conducive to falling asleep. Hospitalized patients can communicate with medical staff to concentrate nighttime care activities and minimize unnecessary disturbances, thereby fostering a stable sleep atmosphere.

Experts remind us.

Director Deng Tianhao from the Oncology Department reminds us: Sleep is nature's best medicine. For cancer patients, every night of restful sleep is a vital contribution to recovery. If after making adjustments as suggested above, insomnia persists for more than two weeks and is accompanied by significant dizziness, mental disorientation, or extreme fatigue during the day, do not try to endure it alone; you must inform your attending physician or seek help from a sleep specialist.

Special reminder: Cancer patients should avoid purchasing sleeping pills on their own. The choice of sleep medications must be considered comprehensively, taking into account the chemotherapy and targeted drugs the patient is currently using, as well as the status of liver and kidney function. This should only be done under the guidance of a professional doctor.

Special Contributor from Hunan Medical Chat: Second Oncology Department, Hunan Province Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine Hospital (Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Yang Si'e.

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