Breast cancer and sleep disturbance: more than simply a quality of life concern

As most practicing oncologists are well aware, problems with sleep are frequent among women with breast cancer. Insomnia affects approximately one quarter of the general adult population with women most commonly affected (1). Sleep problems are particularly prevalent in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women (2) and sleep patterns change with normal aging (3). Other factors associated with sleep disturbance include pain, anxiety and stressful life events - all of which are likely to be present in individuals newly diagnosed with breast cancer.