Sleep & Mesothelioma | Top Positions & Cancer Sleep Tips

Sleep can be significantly affected by mesothelioma cancer, both physically and emotionally. Patients often struggle with sleep disturbances due to pain, shortness of breath, and coughing, especially at night when lying flat can worsen symptoms.

Anxiety, depression, and the stress of a cancer diagnosis can also contribute to insomnia or restless sleep. Additionally, treatments like chemotherapy or steroids may disrupt normal sleep patterns.

In turn, poor sleep can:

Affect the body’s ability to cope with illness
Reduce energy levels
Weaken the immune system

Managing sleep in mesothelioma patients often requires a combination of symptom relief, mental health support, and practical strategies like elevating the head during rest, creating a calming bedtime routine, or working with a care team to adjust medications.

Improving sleep quality can help boost overall well-being and resilience during treatment.

Sleep Tips for Mesothelioma Patients

Sleeping with lung cancer or mesothelioma can be difficult due to symptoms like pain, shortness of breath, coughing, and anxiety. However, improving sleep is possible with a few practical strategies and supportive care. Patients should focus on comfort, breathing support, and creating a restful environment.

Here are some mesothelioma cancer sleep tips that may help:

Elevate your upper body: Sleeping with your head and chest slightly raised can ease breathing and reduce coughing at night. Try using extra pillows or an adjustable bed.
Use a humidifier: Adding moisture to the air can soothe dry airways and make breathing more comfortable.
Follow a calming bedtime routine: Gentle stretching, warm baths, or listening to soft music can help relax the body and mind before sleep.
Manage pain and symptoms before bed: Take prescribed medications as directed and speak with your care team about the best timing to control symptoms overnight.
Sleep on your side or back: Certain positions may help relieve pressure on the lungs and improve airflow. Avoid lying completely flat.
Avoid screens before bed: Give your phone, computer, or TV a break for a couple of hours to let your mind settle before bed.
Limit caffeine and large meals in the evening: These can disrupt sleep and make symptoms like heartburn or restlessness worse.
Talk to your doctor about sleep aids or oxygen support: In some cases, low-flow oxygen or medications may be recommended to improve nighttime breathing and rest.

Getting better sleep with mesothelioma or lung cancer often requires trial and error, so it’s important to regularly discuss symptoms and sleep challenges with your health care team.

Because sleep can help the body recover and strengthen the immune system, it’s vital for mesothelioma cancer patients to get the rest they need.

“Sleep promotes the redistribution of immune cells, such as monocytes and natural killer (NK) cells, to lymphoid tissues, enhancing the body’s ability to detect and respond to pathogens.”
– National Library of Medicine

Best Sleeping Position for Lung Cancer & Mesothelioma

Finding the best sleeping position for someone with lung cancer or mesothelioma depends on the individual’s symptoms, such as breathing difficulty, pain location, or fluid buildup.

Different positions offer specific benefits and drawbacks:

Semi-upright or reclined position (like in a recliner or with pillows behind the back): Helps reduce shortness of breath and nighttime coughing by keeping the lungs more open. Can be especially helpful for those with pleural effusion (fluid buildup), but this may not be as comfortable for long periods or provide full spinal support. Can strain the lower back or neck if not properly supported.
Side sleeping (particularly on the non-affected side): May reduce pressure on the affected lung and improve airflow, and can ease discomfort if one lung is more compromised. If pain or tumors are present on one side, it may be uncomfortable or worsen symptoms. Not ideal for those with shoulder or hip pain.
Back sleeping with head elevated: Keeps airways open, reduces fluid pooling in the chest, and can help with acid reflux, which is common during treatment. Can increase snoring or sleep apnea. Lying flat (if not elevated) may worsen breathing issues.
Fetal position: Can be comforting and reduce tension in the back and may help patients feel more secure during sleep. May restrict deep lung expansion. Not ideal if abdominal or chest pain is present.

For most patients, a semi-upright or side-sleeping position with adequate support is often the most comfortable and breathable. It’s important to adjust based on comfort and consult with a doctor or palliative care specialist for guidance.

Does Lung Cancer Make You Sleep a Lot?

Yes, lung cancer can make you sleep more than usual, especially as the disease progresses or during treatment. Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of lung cancer. It’s not just feeling tired, but a deep exhaustion that rest doesn’t always relieve.

This can be caused by the cancer itself, which uses the body’s energy, as well as from side effects of treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, or certain medications. Difficulty breathing, low oxygen levels, poor sleep quality, and emotional stress or depression can also contribute.

If a lung cancer patient is sleeping a lot, it’s important to speak with their care team, as there may be ways to manage the fatigue and improve daily energy levels.

Can Cancer Treatments Cause Insomnia?

Yes, cancer treatments can cause insomnia. Many patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, or surgery experience sleep disturbances due to side effects like pain, nausea, hot flashes, and fatigue that make it harder to fall or stay asleep.

Steroids, often used to reduce inflammation or manage side effects, can also disrupt sleep by increasing energy levels and restlessness. Emotional stress, anxiety, and depression related to a cancer diagnosis or treatment can further interfere with sleep.

In some cases, hospital stays and frequent medical appointments can throw off a patient’s natural sleep-wake cycle.

Can Asbestos Exposure Cause Sleep Apnea?

Asbestos exposure itself does not directly cause sleep apnea (where breathing stops and starts), but it can contribute to respiratory issues that may worsen or mimic sleep-disordered breathing.

Inhaling asbestos fibers over time can lead to serious lung conditions like asbestosis, pleural plaques, or mesothelioma, which can impair lung function and reduce oxygen levels, especially during sleep. These breathing difficulties may increase the likelihood of disturbed sleep or worsen existing sleep apnea.

While asbestos is not a known cause of obstructive sleep apnea (which typically results from physical airway blockage), its long-term effects on the lungs can lead to symptoms that interfere with restful breathing at night.

Anyone with a history of asbestos exposure and persistent sleep issues should consult a doctor for proper evaluation and care.

Can Lack of Sleep Cause Cancer?

When it comes to mesothelioma, it is critical to understand that sleep deprivation does not cause this cancer. Mesothelioma is caused exclusively by exposure to asbestos, a toxic mineral once widely used in construction and industrial products.

No amount of poor sleep or stress alone can lead to mesothelioma without asbestos exposure.

While getting quality rest is important for overall health and cancer prevention, mesothelioma remains uniquely tied to asbestos as its sole known cause.

Get the Support You Need to Sleep at Night

At Mesothelioma Hope, our team is here to help make sure you or your loved one has everything you need to feel supported, get necessary care without breaking the bank, and have the best chance of beating this cancer.

Our team can help you: