5 Reasons Cancer Treatment Makes it Hard to Sleep (And What You Can Do)

Cancer’s no fun for anyone, but sometimes, there are effects that you never even imagined.

One of the toughest parts of cancer is, actually, the treatment itself. If you’re finding yourself dealing with a variety of side effects and adverse events related to your treatment, you’re far from alone. Whether it’s medication side effects like night sweats, pain, nausea, or anything else, you do have power over your condition.

There are many ways you can manage this.

So let’s not waste any more time. In this article, we’ll delve into the common side effects of cancer medication and what you can start doing TODAY to make the most of your situation.

Struggling with sleep? Have problems falling asleep or staying asleep?

Let’s break down the top five reasons your cancer treatment is disrupting your sleep and what you can do!

1. Pain and Discomfort

Pain and discomfort are no strangers to cancer patients. Many cancer treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation, will leave patients in pain or discomfort. This can be everything from surgical incisions to joint pain, neuropathy, or general soreness.

Continuing pain can also make it hard for patients to fall or stay asleep, leading to exhaustion and frustration.

But there’s always something you can do. Firstly, you can formulate a pain management plan, which will allow you to work with your healthcare provider, leading to better prescription medications, OTC pain relievers, and therapies like acupuncture or massage.

From there, ensure that you have supportive sleeping tools. There are many ways to do this, such as specialized pillows, mattress toppers, and body cushions.

And always, make sure to incorporate gentle stretching. Supportive sleeping tools will help reduce pressure while gentle stretching will relieve tensions in your muscles – a very underrated component!

2. Nausea and Urinary Issues

Restlessness is nothing new for people on chemo, immunotherapy, or steroids for cancer. In fact, restlessness is just one part of the issue. Many people experience nausea and urinary side effects, which may lead to difficulty sleeping or getting to sleep.

One of the easiest ways to address this issue is to adjust your medication timing. Make sure that you speak with your doctor about any possible adjustment. In some cases, all you need to do is take the medication earlier in the day to avoid those nasty feelings.

If need be, you can always change the dosage or even use nausea remedies to combat that awful feeling when you’re trying to rest. If nausea is impacting your sleep, consider herbal teas like ginger and peppermint.

Anti-nausea wristbands are also very popular these days and may make your situation far better.

3. Night Sweats

One of the more common side effects of cancer treatment, night sweats can go a lot further than just sweat. In some cases, hormonal imbalances can lead to serious fevers, requiring frequent changes of clothes or bedding.

But here’s the good news. The first thing you can do is to change the bedroom temperature. Make sure that your thermostat is set at a comfortable level, somewhere between 60-67°F (15-19°C), to help with night sweats.

Also, be sure to use moisture-wicking sheets and pajamas. What you want is breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics because they’ll keep you nice and dry throughout the night.

And finally, keep up on your hydration. You need plenty of water to compensate for any excess sweating, so don’t neglect it. Stay hydrated consistently throughout the day, but cut it off an hour before bedtime because then you’ll just have to wake up and go!

4. Elevated Anxiety Levels

Cancer can be quite scary, so there’s no shame in admitting that you’re stressed, anxious, or emotionally overwhelmed. What matters most is facing your feelings, finding outlets, and having a shoulder to lean on when you need it most.

If you’re having trouble getting your mind to rest at night, don’t feel isolated.

Whether it’s financial worries, medical outcomes, or the physical and mental effects of the cancer and treatment, you are never alone.

Many other cancer patients are going exactly through what you are. Look for support groups online and anonymous message boards. If you want the assistance of professionals, counseling and therapy can be great options for learning coping strategies.

You can also take up relaxation practices such as meditation or deep breathing exercises. For easy access to techniques, try apps like Calm or Headspace, which are ideal for escaping those troubles.

Sometimes, all you need is a little journaling before bed to collect your thoughts and get them out of your head.

5. Routine Changes

Your daily routine is important to you because it’s how you live your life, how you structure and prioritize all the things you want to do, and have to do. And with cancer, there are many things you have to do. Unfortunately, these countless medical appointments, daily demands, and general cancer fatigue can affect your sleep.

If you’re struggling to get your internal clock regulated, consider some changes. Firstly, you can establish a consistent bedtime and wake-up time, even on weekends, which will keep your body going in sync.

Also, try to have a bedtime ritual, something you do reliably to calm your mind and ease your body. Do you like to listen to audiobooks? How about some relaxing music? In many cases, a nice warm bath might just do the trick.

If you can, limit your screen time before sleep. That means no electronic devices at least an hour before you go to bed. When exposed close to bedtime, the blue light suppresses your melatonin levels, disrupting your sleep cycle.

Overall, dealing with fatigue from cancer can be hard. You may feel like you’re doing your best, and it just isn’t working out. Just remember: there are no quick fixes. As you go through your treatment, be easier on yourself. Stay positive, talk with specialists, and especially with the people you love.

If your sleep problems don’t get better with time, look at your daily routine. Are you ingesting caffeine, nicotine, or heavy meals near bedtime? Are you getting regular, moderate exercise during the day? Even an easy walk can do wonders if you’re worn out from treatment.

Stay strong, don’t be afraid to try new things, and always keep your healthcare team informed. You’ve got this!

By Evan Bollinger | Published February 26, 2025