What is the link between sleep and cancer?

An oncology specialist pointed out that “long-term sleep deprivation and chronic fatigue weaken the body’s immune system and increase the risk of mutations in cells, which may lead to cancer.”

The specialist says: “Chronic fatigue and sleep deprivation are not in themselves cancer-causing factors. In other words, they do not directly cause the growth of malignant tumors. However, prolonged exposure to these two factors may lead to immunodeficiency, which disrupts the body’s response to malignant cells that are normally destroyed by the immune system.”

He believes that “chronic fatigue causes an increase in cortisol production, which contributes to inflammation and raises the risk of mutations in cells. Sleep deprivation also disrupts the balance of the biological clock and may also affect the function of tumor-suppressor genes, leading to a drop in melatonin levels, which stimulates tumor growth.”

He continues: “It has been proven that sleeping less than six hours a night over a long period increases the risk of breast, prostate, colon, and rectal cancer,” stressing that “a healthy lifestyle, regular physical activity, proper nutrition, and a balance between work and rest are essential factors in cancer prevention.”