Lack of sleep linked to breast cancer!!!???

[timmi99]

Hi,
I just read on The Little Green Sheep's baby blog from their sleep expert Chireal Shallow that a lack of sleep can increase the risk of breast cancer, according to The British Journal of Cancer!

Aparently a study based on 24,000 women found that those regularly sleeping less than 6 hours per night have a much higher risk! The full article is here thelittlegreensheep.posterous.com/

It's obviously a concern....what does everyone do regarding sleep patterns for the parent and baby!??

Comments welcome
Tim

I would say the research is inconclusive, it is hard to conduct a truly controlled piece of research when there are so many possible variables in other lifestyle factors.

The article I read refers to the study being conducted on women over 40 yrs, being questioned about their current sleeping habits. Although obviously some mothers with young children are over 40, the research was not specifically referring to the lack of sleep caused by a waking baby, more to poor sleep with non specific cause.

Over forty yrs. menopausal hormonal changes will play a part in the incidence of BC.

While, research into possible causes of cancer is important and of interest, I feel a certain level of caution should be applied when interpreting the research findings.

As for Little Green Sheep, they sell products associated with infant sleeping, so hardly an objective viewpoint.

Yes I agree, although like you say it is good to see new research and I guess it just merely highlights the importance of establishing a good routine for parent and baby to ensure as much sleep as possible

OMG - I'm still having trouble getting dd to sleep through at 8 yo, and now regularly get trouble myself (always have) cos I'm old. I'm gonna die....!

yeah, I'm fucked too then, chronic insommniac

Everhopeful, my 8yo is the same

Read in (my MiL's) Daily Mail (which of course is the fount of all medical knowledge) that you live longer if you sleep 5-6 hours a night.

All rubbish.

My mum did everything right (including sleeping a lot) and has terminal secondary breast cancer.