Sleep apnea is common in cancer

If you have cancer and sleep poorly, you may wonder how common sleep problems are. A 2024 review in Cancer Medicine, by Saeki and colleagues, describes a recent meta-analysis of many studies. It reported that about 46% of people with cancer have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a breathing problem during sleep. The review also notes two studies of people newly diagnosed with lung cancer. They found OSA in 49% and 80% of patients. These numbers show that OSA is common in people with cancer. Talk to your care team.