The figures for new cases of cancer in Spain for the year 2024 will continue to show a higher incidence of diagnoses in men than in women. According to estimates by the Spanish Network of Cancer Registries (REDECAN), the number of cancers diagnosed in our country is estimated to reach 286,664, which represents a slight increase with respect to 2023, of which 161,678 will be in men and 124,986 in women.

This trend means that one out of every two men will suffer from this disease during his lifetime, the most frequent tumors being prostate, colorectal and lung cancer, and that the disease and its treatment affect other areas of male health, such as mental and sexual health or the quality of sleep.

In relation to the latter, it is important to highlight the directly proportional relationship between cancer and sleep; this is the conclusion reached by Dr. Txomin Navajas, head of the Clinical Neurophysiology Service at Hospiten. This condition is also bidirectional: lack of quality sleep is a possible cause of the development of tumors, but at the same time, cancer patients can suffer from insomnia and other complications that further affect their quality of life.

In fact, recent research has already shown that neoplasms-any uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells and tissues in the body-may be a consequence of the alteration of circadian rhythms, which in turn are directly linked to and influenced by the transitions between wakefulness and sleep. When these transitions are not balanced due to sleep problems such as insomnia, there is a higher percentage of developing these other types of conditions.

"Most often cancer patients suffer from so-called "mixed insomnia," caused by both the mental burden of the disease and the physical problems of the disease. These patients usually wake up during the night because of pain, since it is much more acute at that time of day," Dr. Navajas explains. This is because, again due to circadian rhythms, there are a series of hormones that are secreted during the day and others that are released during the night; the hormones responsible for mitigating pain fall to their lowest point during nighttime sleep.

"Sleep affects all the body's organs, so poor sleep can influence the development of other diseases such as dementia, Parkinson's, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity," the doctor adds.

We spend a third of our lives sleeping, so proper sleep quality is vital for a good quality of life as a whole.

This article is an English translation generated with Al from the original Spanish content. While we review content for clarity, the information is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis or treatment.