Beating Breast Cancer | Symptoms And Breast Cancer Treatment

Sleeping With The Light On

Breast Cancer, Sleep and Keeping the Lights On At Night

When I first read about this study it all sounded a bit to far fetched to be true - but the evidence does seem to support the claim that sleeping with the light on can increase breast cancer risk.

The study was certainly done by reputable scientists at the National Cancer Institute and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in the United States. The authors believe that it might partly explain why breast cancer risks are rising in rich countries - but don't seem to be in the developing world.

Now - it seems clear that some of this increased breast cancer risk in the Western world relates to issues known to be linked to breast cancer like family history, smoking, drinking alcohol, diet, medicines, and such reproductive factors as childlessness and having children late.

But evidence has been building up that using electric light during the hours of darkness may also increase breast cancer risk.

Other research in the past shows that night shift workers are much more likely to develop breast cancer and that women who are in the habit of frequently staying up late are also at increased risk. Some studies also show that totally blind women are less at risk from breast cancer.

The link seems related to melatonin - a substance naturally produced by our body when in darkness. Melatonin is known to impair the growth of cancer cells and improve the immune system.

Now - like all these studies, they're only a small part of a bigger picture - but, as I type this, Marjory is reminding me that she doesn't like the dark and has slept with a light on nearby for most of her life! We'll be changing that from now on!

As for me, I'm trying cider vinegar for insomnia - I'll let you know how it goes !

Gordon

Labels: chemotherapy, insomnia, living-with-cancer

posted by Marjory @ 6:34 PM

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