Nearly Half of All Cancer Patients Experience Sleep Disorders

Cancer Treatment Centers of America opens sleep diagnostic center to help patients overcome sleeplessness and achieve optimal health before, during and after treatment

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Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Jun 02, 2014, 01:54 ET

CHICAGO, June 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- According to a study by the National Cancer Institute, nearly 45 percent of all cancer patients experience serious sleep disorders, compared to just 25 percent of the general population. Undiagnosed sleep related breathing disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, can be dangerous for patients undergoing anesthesia for surgical procedures. Patients with sleep disorders may also be more sensitive to narcotic pain medications, and prone to fatigue from lack of sleep, limiting their ability to fight their disease. In June, Cancer Treatment Centers of America^® (CTCA) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Midwestern) will open an in hospital state-of-the-art sleep diagnostic center to help patients overcome sleep disorders in conjunction with their cancer care. The sleep diagnostic center is the latest in a myriad of services available at the hospital designed to help patients maintain the health and strength they need to battle cancer. CTCA hospitals across the nation have successfully integrated sleep diagnostic centers into their treatment programs, serving hundreds of patients suffering from cancer related sleep disorders.

"When battling cancer, patients must be strong in mind and body in order to fight the disease," said Yiping Fu, MD, interventional pulmonologist, sleep specialist and medical director of the sleep program at CTCA at Midwestern. "By treating secondary health issues, such as sleep disorders, we are able to help patients achieve optimal health before, during and after treatment."

During a sleep study, patients are connected to computerized monitoring equipment to track heart and brainwave activity, eye and leg movements, breathing, muscle tone and blood oxygen levels. Sleep studies take place in specially designed sleep rooms, which are complete with comfortable beds, TV's and a soothing decor to help patients feel at home. Patients are welcome to bring personal belongings to help them feel more comfortable and relaxed, as the study should closely mimic a "normal" night sleep. Throughout the night, sleep experts, registered polysomnographic technologists (RPSGT), monitor each patient's activity from a centrally located control room.

"Identifying any of the 70 known sleep disorders may benefit a cancer patient by improving their tolerance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and increasing their physical, psychological and cognitive functioning," added Dr. Fu.

After a patient's sleep study is performed and evaluated, and it is determined that a sleeping disorder is present, the sleep specialist prescribes the appropriate therapy and follow up in accordance with the patient's personalized cancer treatment plan.

"At CTCA, we provide leading-edge treatment while also focusing on helping patients achieve a strong quality of life," said Jerry Butts, cardiopulmonary director at CTCA. "The sleep center is an example of our commitment."

Sleeplessness is common among cancer patients and can be caused by sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, or result from narcotic pain medication or high levels of stress.

"It is important to ask patients about their quality of sleep because over time, it can seriously impact their quality of life," said Dr. Fu. "Caregivers are often impacted too, leading to fatigue and in some cases depression."

In addition to sleep experts, CTCA focuses strongly on nutrition support and mind body medicine, all designed to help patients minimize stress and focus on healthy living during treatment.

To learn more about the sleep lab and CTCA at Midwestern, visit www.cancercenter.com/midwestern.

About Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Midwestern Regional Medical Center
Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Midwestern) is a 73-bed specialty hospital dedicated to treating patients battling advanced and complex cancer. CTCA at Midwestern is nationally recognized for providing innovative and individualized cancer care and has been designated by the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers Program (NQMBC®) as a Certified Quality Breast Center of Excellence™, ranking the hospital among the top centers in the country for quality breast cancer care. CTCA at Midwestern is the only Certified Breast Center of Excellence in Illinois, and one of only 41 nationally. As a member of the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) the hospital also offers a Stem Cell Transplant and Cell Therapy program that provides a full spectrum of transplantation services and advanced treatment options for hematologic cancers. CTCA at Midwestern is proud to use the latest technology to offer advanced treatment for cancer and is currently one of only a few hospitals in the nation to combine recent advances in brain mapping and navigation to perform minimally invasive brain surgery on hard to reach brain tumors.

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SOURCE Cancer Treatment Centers of America