Charting Your Course : Seminar I - Taking Your Bearings : Sleep Disturbance

Sleep disturbance, or insomnia, is a common problem for cancer patients. It can be caused by pain, by anxiety and depression, by the illness itself, and by the side effects of some treatments. Insomnia is described in three ways: difficulty in falling asleep, inability to stay asleep, and early morning wakening.

Discuss sleep disturbance with your doctor. It's helpful to describe your pattern of insomnia, your usual sleep habits, your pre-sleep routine, and your activity and exercise levels.

Review with your doctor all your medications and treatments. Some treatments, such as steroids, may cause insomnia. Long-term use of some medications can destroy natural sleep patterns.

Sometimes short-term use of a medicine may be helpful. Commonly used medications to help sleep are benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and antihistamines.

Here are some techniques you can try to improve your sleep:

establish a quiet, relaxing period before sleep
establish regular sleep and wake times
exercise as part of daily routine
learn relaxation or distraction techniques
explore causes of anxiety or depression
avoid caffeine, especially late in the day

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This content is derived from the "Charting Your Course Seminars: A Whole Person Approach To Living With Cancer", provided by Norris Cotton Cancer Center.