Sleep Disturbances in Lung Cancer Patients

Kanta      Velamuri

Abstract

Sleep disturbances are very common in cancer patients. They are part of a symptom cluster with fatigue and pain that greatly affect quality of life in these patients. Lung cancer patients are found to have the highest prevalence of sleep disturbances. However, these disturbances have not been as well-studied in the lung cancer patients. Though insomnia is the most common disorder seen in these patients, other sleep disorders like excessive daytime sleepiness, limb movement disorders and circadian rhythm disorders have also been described. Treatment of these disorders may affect the prognosis of patients with lung cancer. More studies should be done to elucidate the details of sleep disturbances in lung cancer patients.

Keywords: Lung cancer and sleep disturbances, insomnia and lung cancer, restless legs syndrome and cancer

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