HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - insomnia common in patients (after) treated with chemotherapy

Laurel · 11-24-2009, 06:36 AM

It is not surprising that breast cancer patients have difficulty sleeping during treatment due to the steroids and the estrogen drop. Explains why younger patients have more difficulty as their bodies are accustomed to a nice estrogen level that is knocked to the floor by chemo.

Later, many BC survivors are on Tamoxifen or an A.I. which are both known to cause insomnia, again due to their estrogen suppression. I have added Melatonin 20mg nightly to help with my insomnia with good results.

11-24-2009, 06:36 AM	#2
Laurel Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hershey, PA. Live The Sweet Life! Posts: 2,005	Re: insomnia common in patients (after) treated with chemotherapy It is not surprising that breast cancer patients have difficulty sleeping during treatment due to the steroids and the estrogen drop. Explains why younger patients have more difficulty as their bodies are accustomed to a nice estrogen level that is knocked to the floor by chemo. Later, many BC survivors are on Tamoxifen or an A.I. which are both known to cause insomnia, again due to their estrogen suppression. I have added Melatonin 20mg nightly to help with my insomnia with good results. __________________ Smile On! Laurel Dx'd w/multifocal DCIS/IDS 3/08 7mm invasive component Partial mast. 5/08 Stage 1b, ER 80%, PR 90%, HER-2 6.9 on FISH 0/5 nodes 4 AC, 4 TH finished 9/08 Herceptin every 3 weeks. Finished 7/09 Tamoxifen 10/08. Switched to Femara 8/09 Bilat SPM w/reconstruction 10/08 Clinical Trial w/Clondronate 12/08 Stopped Clondronate--too hard on my gizzard! Switched back to Tamoxifen due to tendon pain from Femara 15 Years NED I think I just might hang around awhile....