Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide and the second leading cause of all-cancer mortality. Breast cancer is a multifactorial disease with several elements that contribute to its development. Several lines of evidence suggest that disruptions in circadian rhythm may increase the risk of breast cancer, primarily through decreasing the body’s production of melatonin, a molecule that combats tumorigenesis through antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, and anti-aromatase properties. Sleep characteristics like insomnia, sleep duration, chronotype, and participating in night shift work have all been studied to determine their impact on breast cancer risk. While there is research both in support of and against each of the previously mentioned sleep characteristics’ role in breast cancer development, the majority of studies that have been carried out are supportive of some form of causal association between sleep disturbances and breast cancer incidence and progression. The variability in various studies suggests that sleep disturbance may need to be particularly severe or persist for many years in order to have tumorigenic effects. This connection between sleep and breast cancer suggests that maintaining healthy sleep habits may reduce the risk of breast cancer over time. Taking melatonin supplements, participating in cognitive behavioral therapy, exercising regularly, and limiting exposure to blue light have all been shown to be useful practices for improving sleep quality; thus, these techniques may be useful for reducing breast cancer risk in women who experience sleep disturbances.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/45568 |
| Date | 02 February 2023 |
| Creators | Hines, Katherine |
| Contributors | Gerstenfeld, Louis, Ganem, Neil |
| Source Sets | Boston University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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