Sleep is an important part of restoring health during and after blood cancer treatment, although it can often be an ongoing problem.
Many people receiving treatment for a blood cancer or recovering from one, experience problems sleeping and disruptions to their usual sleeping patterns. For many blood cancer patients, the interruptions to normal sleep patterns can be due to the side effects of treatment such as nausea and pain as well as certain treatments like steroids.
A blood cancer diagnosis may turn your normal day-to-day routines upside down. Sudden changes to your lifestyle such as travelling to and from hospital, sleeping in a hospital bed, eating different foods or not being able to eat your usual foods can all impact the quality of your sleep.
The experience of being diagnosed with a blood cancer and the months and years during treatment and beyond can be a very emotionally distressing time. Many people find themselves dealing with psychological issues such as anxiety and low mood, which can become worse from a lack of solid, regular sleep. It is important that you talk to your haematologist and healthcare team about any symptoms of sleeplessness to find the best option for getting your sleep back into a normal routine.
Read our handy factsheet about sleep including more information about: sleep requirements, the stages of sleep, insomnia, and tips for good sleep hygiene.
