Many people sacrifice sleep to meet deadlines, scroll through social media or work late into the night. However, a surgical oncologist says this common habit may quietly increase the risk of developing cancer over time.
Dr Arrjun Sankaran, a Hyderabad based surgical oncologist, highlighted the link between poor sleep and cancer risk in a social media post shared on June 17. He urged people to rethink late night routines, explaining that healthy sleep plays a vital role in the body’s natural defence against abnormal cell growth.
In the caption of his post, he wrote, “Did you know that you have a higher risk of cancer if you do a lot of late-night phone scrolling, don’t sleep too well at night, or are a night shift worker?”
Why Sleep Matters
According to Dr Sankaran, the brain releases melatonin every night. This hormone helps repair damaged DNA, controls abnormal cell growth and reduces cancer driving hormones such as oestrogen.
He explained that melatonin forms only in darkness. That means spending an hour scrolling on a phone before bedtime may do more than delay sleep. It may also reduce the body’s natural production of melatonin.
“The WHO or IRC classifies night shift work as a Group 2A carcinogen, which means that it is just less than the risk associated with a cigarette or alcohol,” he noted.
The oncologist stressed that the concern is not an occasional late night. Instead, he warned about the long term effects of chronic sleep deprivation. According to him, sleep remains one of the most powerful and cost free tools for reducing cancer risk.
He added that people with long term sleep disruption face a higher risk of breast, colorectal and prostate cancers. He linked this to three major factors. First, poor sleep disrupts the body’s circadian rhythm and natural repair system. Second, reduced melatonin allows more DNA errors and abnormal cell changes to accumulate. Third, many night shift workers receive less morning sunlight, which may lower vitamin D production.
Simple Habits That May Protect Your Health
Dr Sankaran advised people to turn off screens at least one hour before bedtime. He also recommended using blackout curtains or a sleep mask to create complete darkness.
For families with young children, he suggested using red or amber lights instead of bright white lighting at night. He also encouraged people to avoid using their phones for at least 15 minutes before sleeping and, if possible, keep devices outside the bedroom.
Finally, he urged people to follow a consistent sleep routine.
“Try to stick to a regular sleep schedule because your circadian rhythm depends on it. Make sure you prioritise your sleep like your life depends on it, because quite literally it does.”
Health experts continue to emphasise that good sleep supports overall wellbeing, strengthens immune function and helps the body recover from daily stress. While sleep alone cannot prevent cancer, maintaining healthy sleep habits forms an important part of a balanced lifestyle alongside regular exercise, a nutritious diet, avoiding tobacco and limiting alcohol.
Note: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
