Night Shift And Cancer

Nurses General Nursing

Published

"The researchers studied 78,586 women taking part in a long-running program called the Nurses' Health Study. The nurses who worked night shifts at least three times a month for 15 years or more had a 35 percent greater risk of colon or rectal cancer. "

http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/conditions/06/04/cancer.nightshifts.reut/index.html

Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.
Originally posted by angelbear

Do any of you 3rd shifters suffer from guilt for sleeping so much through the day. I swear I only sleep 7 to 9 hrs but I feel like I could sleep a heck of alot more. But it makes me feel like a lazy person. I dont know why. Other people sleep that many hours but somehow I still feel guilty. My sleep doesnt seem as restful as it should and I have been doing this for 5yrs. Just wondering if anyone else has the guilt thing.

I never felt guilt over sleeping the 5-6 hours I got between shifts when I worked nights. (I'd play catch up with a 10 hour sleep "marathon" about once a week.) I sure felt angry when some people implied that all I did was sleep though! Or the phone would ring and I'd groggily answer to hear someone say...."oh, were you sleeping?" I sometimes had the urge to call them back at 3 am and say..."oh, were you sleeping?":devil: I am on days now and have so much respect for the sleep time of night workers as I know how maddening it was to be called at all and even worse be called lazy when I was just trying to get MY sleep.

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I'm on nights and love love love it. Always have been the night owl though - I even took afternoon kindergarten (back when you only went for 1/2 day), because Mom couldn't get me up and moving in the morning!

My theory about night shifters having a higher occurence of colon/rectal cancer is that we tend to have less suits, MDs, supervisors, etc. with their noses wedged firmly up our heinies! No one is there to check us for abnormal polyps! :D

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Specializes in Cardiac/Vascular & Healing Touch.

I agree about the people who say "you slept all day!" I remind them that I work 12 hours nites, & have done more before 7am than they do all day!!! I would love to call these telemarketeers @ 0330 & give them some advice about not waking up sleepy nurses! :mad:

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LOL, Shark! That's exactly how I feel about it! I work nights to stay away from the brass. They really pile on the paperwork with nights, though. They think these people SLEEP all night!

I think the important thing to do is to get yourself into a routine when you come home in the morning and stick to it. I know a lot of people who, even on their days off, stay up all night. I don't do that because I do like sleeping with my husband so he doesn't forget what I look like! On my day off I usually take a two hour nap when I get home and then stay up until bedtime. It works for me. Do whatever you have to do to get your rest, and for heaven's sake, don't feel guilty about it! Your family is much better off with a mom who sleeps during the day than with a dead mommy from driving into a tree on the way home from work one morning!

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..

Re the phone:

TURN IT OFF!!! LOL!

My dad for years would call and say, "Why are you in bed?" I would explain, "what if I called you at 3 am , bla bla bla, but he never could "get it." To say nothing of the idiot calls from telemarketers etc.

Now I make SURE I can't hear the phone while I'm sleeping.

Emergencies? Well, there are other people that can be called who can come and wake me up.

But it's an EMERGENCY if I don't get the sleep I need.

(This dang computer tho', it is SO hard to tear myself away...)

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Originally posted by HoJo

Man what will they pull out of their &*^es next? No matter what we are ALL going to die of some type of cancer. Choose your fate, (insert Pinhead here from HellRaiser).

A. sunlight= skin cancer.

B. no light= colon/rectal cancer.

hi Ho Jo

re: colon ca. ~ i was reading a magazine devoted to traditional chinese medicine and it was reported that colon cancer is virtually unknown in countries where people squat to defecate . . .

apparently, according to this study, the rise of colon cancer has coincided with the use of toilets!

remember the ileoceocal valve from A&P? many western physiologists report that the valve in non-functional because it allows the back flow of stool from the colon into the ileum . . . but apparently when you squat, the valve closes properly which prevents the back flow of stool into the ileum and facilitates more efficient emptying of the colon, which lead to less colon cancer . . . or so this study speculated

i live in a cabin in the woods and enjoy the luxury of having an outhouse to use so i have experimented with squatting in the outhouse and sure enough it does seem to be the case . . . i have adopted bending over when forced to use toilets to help simulate squatting and closing off the ileoceocal valve . . .

wierd huh?

want to read more?

http://www.alkalizeforhealth.net/Lbathroomproducts2.htm

http://www.NaturesPlatform.com

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Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.
Originally posted by zoeboboey

Re the phone:

TURN IT OFF!!! LOL!

My dad for years would call and say, "Why are you in bed?" I would explain, "what if I called you at 3 am , bla bla bla, but he never could "get it." To say nothing of the idiot calls from telemarketers etc.

Now I make SURE I can't hear the phone while I'm sleeping.

Emergencies? Well, there are other people that can be called who can come and wake me up.

But it's an EMERGENCY if I don't get the sleep I need.

(This dang computer tho', it is SO hard to tear myself away...)

Turning off the ringer was my solution once the kids were grown. I couldn't risk not being available when they were younger and may need me while in school, though. No one else was available to help, so I was at the mercy of those damned telemarketers. Argh!

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Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.

oraibi

Wow. Interesting indeed. Makes sense, but can you imagine the look on your guests' faces when they ask to use the bathroom?

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
Originally posted by sbic56

I couldn't risk not being available when they were younger and may need me while in school, though.

I had a cell phone number that only the school, my kid, and few others had. They ALL knew it was ONLY for DIRE emergencies unless they were absolutely positive it was my day off!

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Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.
Originally posted by zoeboboey

I had a cell phone number that only the school, my kid, and few others had. They ALL knew it was ONLY for DIRE emergencies unless they were absolutely positive it was my day off!

Ah! Perfect solution. (Giving away my age now)...that wasn't an option for me because they weren't available yet!:)

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Originally posted by 3rdShiftGuy

Can I quote you next time I'm sleepy before my shift ends?? LOL

Excellent points. I said that just today on my day off. "I'm tired, I'm listening to my body and taking a nap. Screw cleaning this house." :chuckle

It's amazing how many people abuse themselves and then run to the doctor later saying "I'm sick, fix me. But I want a pill, I don't want to change."

HAHA I know, it is too bad sometimes on that last stretch... the 4 am-7am part for me personally, you can't go close your eyes...

It really is true though that we so often abuse our bodies and then get upset when we are ill or injured.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Ok here is my simpleminded take on this "risk"-----

I think it is more related to the poor diets, lack of regular vigorous exercise, and deprived sleeping habits of nightshifters. I make a CONCERTED effort to keep lots of fiber, fruits, veggies, etc in my diet. If I can't EAT a veggie/fruit, I drink a BIG glass of V-8 and am learning (slowly I admit), to leave the junk food alone. I also make it a point to get out in sunshine an hour or so a day (tough to do in Seattle at times, but there ARE lightboxes). AND I make darn sure to get my share of SLEEP; this is critical to survive nights. YOU MUST SLEEP, period, no ifs and or buts about it. So many don't though. I also strive to walk or use the cross-country ski machine for an hour at least 3 times a week.

I hope these habits I am developing will help offset any cancer risk I may have by working nights. Most of the folks I know working nights take LOUSY care of themselves and it shows, physically and emotionally. I bet if SCRUPULOUS eating, exercise and wellness habits were maintained by nightshifters, the cancer rates they have linked to working nights would significantly drop! I'd almost stake my paycheck on it....

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