Insomnia is a catch-all term that addresses both trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. It can be acute, or only lasting for a few days or weeks, or chronic, where it lasts for three months or longer.

Generally, people experiencing insomnia simply don’t get as much sleep as they should. It is advised that adults should get 7 hours, at minimum, of good sleep per night – those facing cancer or other illnesses may find that they need even more sleep. Getting less than this amount can lead to mental, emotional, and physical fatigue, and general difficulty operating throughout the day.

If you have already been diagnosed with insomnia before your cancer diagnosis, you are more likely to experience it after your diagnosis as well. It is advisable to bring this up with your care team as soon as possible so you can discuss possible interventions before you lose too much sleep!