Abstract

The etiology of hereditary breast cancer is well-known, vvhereas the cause in sporadic cases is mostly unknown. Our hypothesis is that, sleep disturbances or ineffective sleep, restlessness and the lack of holidays may cause malignancy by their effect on immune System. Life style (sleep, rest, journeys and holidays) can be a cause of breast cancer. İn this study we applied Altinbas-Calm Test (ACT) to both breast cancer cases and healthy Controls to assign the life style. Materials and Methods: 83 breast cancer cases and 81 healthy Controls, that referred to Erciyes University Medical Oncology Clinic in 2005, vvere included in this study. ACT vvere applied to ali cases. Results: Significant differences vvere detected for the ansvvers to Ouestions 1 (How much do you sleep?), 3 (How well do you get avvake ?) and 5 (What do you think about journey and holidays ?) in betvveen the breast cancer group and Controls. There waere no significant differences for the ansvvers to Ouestions 2 (Do you sleep more at vveekends?) and 4 (What does sleep and rest mean to you?) betvveen the tvvo groups. Conclusion: The patients suffering from cancer, do emphasize that they are in need of more sleep, rest, holiday and journey be-cause of the effect of the treatment. Breast cancer group in this study have claimed that sleep is of no importance in human life and that they get avvake early; supporting our hypothesis. This questionnaire points out that life style can be a cause of breast cancer.