A good night’s sleep can often be challenging for people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In fact, sleep disturbances are estimated to affect between 50 and 80 percent of patients with blood cancers.
“Patients may experience persistent fatigue, night sweats, unintentional weight loss, enlarged lymph nodes, abdominal fullness or discomfort from an enlarged spleen, and sometimes bone or joint pain,” says Larry Ladi, MD, the medical director of inpatient operations at City of Hope Cancer Center in Phoenix. “These symptoms can interfere with daily activities, exercise, appetite, and sleep.”
In addition, Dr. Ladi says the emotional and mental health impacts of a cancer diagnosis also play a role. “Living with a chronic cancer diagnosis can create significant stress, anxiety, and uncertainty, particularly for patients on active surveillance who may not require immediate treatment but are still living with the disease,” he says.
People living with CLL may find it harder to fall asleep or to stay asleep, or wake up too early and then be unable to fall back asleep. It can be difficult to break the cycle, but there are steps you can take to ensure better rest.
