In a recent study, sleep-deprived rats on the chemotherapy drug Paclitaxal had bad side effects.

Society in general is experiencing a sleep deficit, whether through work obligations or lifestyle choices that may limit time spent snoozing. And that could mean more than droopy eyelids. It could bring more intense side effects during treatment for the more than 1.7 million people diagnosed each year with cancer, suggests a study by Sharon Kozachik, PhD, RN, Gayle Page, DNSc, RN, FAAN, and a colleague. They found that rats experienced worse side effects when treated with Paclitaxal (PAC), a common chemotherapy drug, and denied proper sleep.