Prior to my dx I worked for 5 years at night for a major newspaper/magazine group I did 3 shifts 13hrs per shift right through the night, at the time it suited me because I could earn an average wage only doing the 3 nights which left me with plenty of down time to go to my art studio and paint. Since being dx I have learned about a connection with Breast Cancer and not sleeping at night. Low levels of melatonin due to excess exposure to light or as natural part of the aging process is associated with increased risk of breast cancer.
When we go to sleep normally during the night in a pitch black room our bodies produce a hormone called Melatonin that communicates information concerning environmental light conditions to various parts of the body and plays a vital role in the synchronization of circadian rhythms. Melatonin is synthesized and secreted by the pineal gland in the brain. Women can maintain their melatonin levels by getting enough sleep, avoiding night shift work and light exposure at night, and consuming melatonin-rich foods. I will list these melatonin rich foods later.
Melatonin is produced at night (or in conditions of darkness) and nocturnal light disrupts melatonin synthesis. When women work at night or are otherwise exposed to light at night, their risk of breast cancer increases. Perhaps the most dramatic evidence of this phenomenon is the finding that blind women have a lower risk of breast cancer than sighted women. In addition, total visual blindness provides significantly higher protection against breast cancer than partial blindness with some perception of light.
Nurses engaging in night shift work have higher rates of breast cancer than nurses working day shifts. However some types of schedules appear to be more harmful than others and the number of years of night shift work also makes a difference. A Norwegian study which included 44,835 nurses found no increase in breast cancer risk after long periods during which nurses worked at least three night shifts per month. Small, statistically insignificant increases in risk were found for exposure to working at least 12 years in schedules that included some night work, working a total of at least 1,007 night shifts during one's lifetime, or having a lifetime average number of at least four night shifts per month. Higher, but still statistically insignificant increases in risk of breast cancer were found in women who worked at least five years with at least four consecutive night shifts or at least five consecutive night shifts. However, significantly increased risks were observed in nurses who mworked at least five years with six or more consecutive night shifts. Hence, the increase in breast cancer risk appears to be related to number of consecutive night shifts and the number of years of such shifts worked.
Habitually sleeping in the presence of artificial light at night might also increase breast cancer risk by inhibiting melatonin production. Blue light wavelengths appear to have a far greater suppressive effect on melatonin production than red wavelengths. One study found that, compared to exposure to dim light, exposure to room light before bedtime suppressed melatonin production, resulting in a later melatonin onset in 99% of study participants and shortening the duration of melatonin production by approximately 90 minutes. In an Israeli study, 1,679 breast cancer patients were interviewed regarding bedroom light levels, including light coming in the room outside the bedroom and sleeping with the television on. "Sleeping habitat" light intensity was found to be linked to breast cancer risk.
Common foods that are very good dietary sources of melatonin include almonds,cherries (especially sour or tart cherries), and tomatoes. Walnuts, oats, and sweet corn also contain some melatonin. Other very good sources of melatonin include white and black mustard seeds,sunflower seeds, fennel seed, red, brown and green algae, and flaxseed.
Although melatonin supplements have been shown to be effective in increasing circulating melatonin levels, there have been few studies concerning the impact of such supplementation on breast cancer risk or breast cancer recurrence. Melatonin supplements are typically taken to aid sleep or as part of an anti-aging regimen. While the levels of melatonin found in supplements appear to be safe for the general population, safe and effective dosages for breast cancer survivors have not been established and my oncs. registrar told me not to take melatonin. I was flabbergasted when I found out about this and have beaten myself up as too why I worked nights for so long, wish I'd of known about this hence my reason for posting. I'm thinking I might get some Melatonin from Holland and Barratt and figure anything is worth a try especially when your at stage IV cancer.
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