Difficulty Sleeping

It is quite common for people with cancer to have difficulty sleeping at some point during their illness. There are different patterns of disturbed sleep that people experience. Some people find it hard to fall asleep, whereas others wake up during the night or very early on a morning. Although sleepless nights will not do you any physical harm, they can make you feel tired, irritable and a bit dazed.

There are many different things related to your cancer which may interfere with your sleep. You may feel anxious, depressed or worried about the future or you may have physical symptoms or be taking medications which are disturbing your sleep. There are many things that can be done to help aid sleep.

Medication

Some drugs can affect sleep. If you are taking any medication it is worth checking with your pharmacist or doctor to see whether they may be affecting your sleep. Examples of drugs that can affect sleep are certain drugs for asthma, migraine or anti-sickness.

If you have been prescribed sleeping tablets, you should take them as prescribed by your doctor. Do not exceed the maximum daily dose that you have been prescribed.

Whilst sleeping tablets can help in the short term, in the long term they can have the potential to cause sleep problems as they interfere with the quality of sleep and can alter sleep patterns.

If you have difficulty sleeping and feel you need help in coping with this, please contact your oncology doctor, clinical nurse specialist (if you have one) or GP for further advice.

Fluid Intake

Avoid drinks with caffeine in them such as coffee, tea and certain soft drinks (such as cola or energy drinks) after early afternoon as they may interfere with your sleep during the night.

Although drinking alcohol may help you get to sleep, your sleep is likely to be disturbed and of poor quality so it is best to avoid or limit alcohol if you experience difficulty sleeping.

Physical Activity and Exercise

Physical activity may be beneficial for people with sleeping difficulties. If possible, try to take some gentle regular exercise.

Sleep

If you have trouble sleeping at night it may help to change a few things about when and where you sleep. It is important to establish a routine in the evenings to help you relax for bedtime. Be patient with any changes you do make as it may take a couple of weeks to get back into a good sleep routine. If you find that you just can’t fall asleep or seem unable to get a good night’s sleep, try to stay in bed and relax as uninterrupted rest is important.

Disclaimer: On this website you will find advice to help you manage some of the more common but milder symptoms and side effects of cancer and cancer treatment. Please ONLY use this advice if you are currently participating in the eRAPID Lung research project, otherwise you must follow the advice given to you by your medical team. Clicking on the links in the menu will take you to advice on looking after yourself during and after cancer treatment. If after following the advice you don’t feel your symptoms are being successfully managed or relieved, you should contact your Clinical Nurse Specialist Team.

Email: Leedsth-tr.lungcancernurses@nhs.net

Telephone: 0113 2067916