Caromont Cancer Center Participates in New Trial to Address Long Standing Problem in Cancer Survivors; Sleep Disturbances after Treatment

Written By: Dr. Charles J. Meakin, MD

CaroMont Health is now enrolling patients into a clinical trial to compare the effectiveness of Yoga, Survivorship Health Education, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for treating sleep problems in cancer survivors. Insomnia can be described as excessive daytime napping, difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, or waking up earlier than desired. Insomnia can increase fatigue, impair physical function, impair immune function, cause circadian rhythms (known as the biological clock) to be disrupted and decrease quality of life. Yoga may improve circadian rhythms, physical and immune function, and improve insomnia and sleep quality in cancer survivors. It is not yet known whether yoga is more effective at treating insomnia than a health education program or cognitive behavioral therapy program. To be eligible patients must be 18 years of age or older, have moderate to severe sleep problems, a diagnosis of cancer without distant metastasis, and have completed all cancer treatments in the past 2-24 months.