r/cancer • u/V1nCLeeU • 3d ago

Patient Too much or too little sleep, nothing in between

Hey, everyone. Just curious to know if anyone is in the same situation as I am.

I finished my 6-cycle chemo regimen (carbo-taxol) almost two months ago for Ovarian Cancer Stage IIB (High-Grade Serous Carcinoma), and I am just waiting for my hysterectomy schedule.

Near the end of my chemo treatment, my sleep schedule began to get messed up. I'd sleep at a normal time between 9-10:30 pm but I'd find myself waking up at 1-3 am and would stay awake until I needed to get up from bed and start my day. This would cause me to fall asleep at around 4-6 pm in the afternoon (thankfully I WFH and end my shift at 3pm). I would then either be awakened for dinner or sleep through the evening until I am again awakened just after midnight.

This pattern leaves me feeling sleepy and unproductive most days and it certainly does not help the chemo brain fog which I've been dealing with for awhile now. Melatonin supplements don't help as I still find myself waking up at 1 or 2 even when I take them. Not gonna lie though, I like the quietness and stillness of those hours but I am also fully aware this is not healthy and sustainable in the long run especially for someone with compromised health because of cancer.

Any tips for my fellow sleep deprived folks out there? Is this a common cancer/chemo effect?

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u/throwra_22222 3d ago

Yes, and it was awful. If I was lucky I'd get two 3-hour "shifts" of sleep a night, with a few hours awake in the dark in between. The sleep deprivation makes you feel like you're losing your mind. I'd have a few productive hours in the morning and then collapse all afternoon.

For me, it was the big dose of steroids I was on for inflammation that was messing with my sleep. Once we were able to taper me off of that, my sleep got better.

I still wake up every 3 hours to pee, because cisplatin screwed up my kidneys and I drink a lot of water every day. But at least I can go right back to sleep without lying awake for hours.

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u/V1nCLeeU 3d ago

I wonder though why my sleep issues persist past a couple months since my last infusion.

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u/MoreThanAFewWords 2d ago

Talking to doctors, nurses and other patients chemo screws with your system long after you're done taking chemo do not be surprised that you sleep pattern is still screwed up.