An Irregular Sleep Schedule May Increase Breast Cancer Risk

Sleeping in tune with the body’s circadian rhythm gives it the downtime needed for vital rejuvenation.

Stokkete/Shutterstock

Breast cancer patients may wonder how they ended up with the disease even though they maintained a healthy diet and have no family history of it. Dr. Zhang Jinjian, a leading breast cancer physician in Taiwan, told The Epoch Times that sleep habits can affect breast cancer risk.

Typical Breast Cancer Risks

One of the main factors that raises a woman’s risk of breast cancer is family history.

Actor Angelina Jolie is an example of someone who had a high risk of breast cancer due to a family history of cancer in multiple relatives. Her aunt had breast cancer, and her mother died of ovarian cancer. Both had tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation, which is linked to breast and ovarian cancer, and Jolie was found to have the same mutated gene. Doctors told her her risk of developing breast cancer was 87 percent, and her chance of developing ovarian cancer was 50 percent. Based on those factors, she decided to play it safe and had her breasts, ovaries, and fallopian tubes removed.

Mastectomies, the removal of breast tissue, have come a long way in terms of preserving aesthetics, Zhang said. With today’s advanced reconstructive techniques, surgeons only need to make small incisions around the areola and under the armpit. This approach removes the breast tissue and allows for the placement of new implants. For those considering ovary removal who are concerned about the reduction of estrogen after removal, women can take supplements or undergo hormone replacement therapy to maintain their hormone balance, Zhang said.

Other factors that raise a woman’s risk of breast cancer include:

• Early menstruation
• Late menopause
• Excessive hormone supplements after menopause
• High-fat and high-calorie diets
• Not having children
• Endocrine disrupters

Menstruation stimulates progesterone and estrogen, stimulating the breast glands. Because women with early menstruation or late menopause l have more menstrual periods that activate their hormones, they end up with a comparatively higher risk of breast cancer, Zhang said.

For the same reason, excessive use of female hormone supplements or eating high-fat and oily foods increases the risk of obesity and inflammation, thereby raising the risk of breast cancer.

Other risk factors are often related to lifestyle choices, like exposure to plasticizers or pesticide residues (endocrine disruptors), which can increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Common foods containing plasticizers include drinks bottled in plastic and ready-made ultra-processed foods. Improperly washed, conventionally grown vegetables and fruits can also contain pesticide residues.

Circadian Rhythm Disruption Can Increase Cancer Risk

Zhang said night owls should be particularly careful, as disrupting the circadian rhythm can raise the risk of breast cancer. Research suggests that women who work night shifts for many years may have a modestly increased risk of breast cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies night shift work as a probable carcinogen, although researchers continue to debate the magnitude of the risk.

The circadian rhythm describes how the bodies of humans and animals follow the cycles of day and night. The circadian rhythm emphasizes a crucial point: When it’s time to rest, both the body and brain need adequate downtime. While the brain is resting, it processes the information received during the day and clears out unnecessary waste, like taking out the trash. When the sun goes down, the body begins to release melatonin. Melatonin not only helps people enter a dormant state but also has a close relationship with the immune system. People who don’t sleep well have reduced immunity and are more likely to get sick. The body will also be under more stress, increasing the risk of other cancers.

Depression Is a Potential Cancer Risk Factor

Poor sleep quality can be caused by anxiety or depression. Although depression is not the direct cause of breast cancer, Zhang believes that the stress and poor mood caused by depression will affect the endocrine system, which is responsible for producing and releasing hormones. This weakens immunity and causes autonomic nervous system disorders, which could increase the risk of all sorts of diseases that affect female reproductive organs.

To reduce the impact of depression on sleep quality, Zhang suggested learning to control stress. As he got older, Zhang told us he often needed to go to the bathroom at night and then failed to fall back asleep. If he had a surgery or an event he was worried about the next day, that anxiety would make it even harder to fall asleep. After mastering the trick of letting go of his tension and anxiety, he’s been able to sleep more easily.

6 Tips for Improving Sleep Quality

Zhang suggested the following for improving sleep quality:

• Use a mattress and pillows that have a moderate level of firmness.
• Avoid blue light from screens one hour before bedtime.
• Choose soft music before bed; avoid fast, upbeat rhythms.
• Avoid late-night snacks.
• Refrain from intense exercise before bedtime; consider stretching gently or taking a warm bath.
• Avoid arguments before bed to prevent stress.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here.