Assessment of sleep in patients with lung cancer and breast cancer

Abstract

Purpose and methods: We studied the sleep architecture and psychologic state of 32 patients with breast or lung cancer compared with 32 age- and sex-matched, normal-sleeping volunteers and 32 otherwise healthy insomniacs.

Results: Research findings indicate that lung cancer patients slept as poorly as did insomniacs, but underreported their sleep difficulties. Breast cancer patients slept similarly to normal-sleeping volunteers. No psychiatric disorders were detected in the cancer patients, and there were no significant differences in mood between lung and breast cancer patients.

Conclusion: Lung cancer patients appear to be unique in underestimating an objectively verified sleep difficulty. The adaptive mechanism of denial in these patients is discussed.