Insomnia is a frequent complaint in patients with breast cancer and its consequences can impact the quality of life and course of the disease. The aim of this study was to review the literature on the relationship between insomnia and breast cancer, addressing the definition, prevalence, etiological factors and consequences of insomnia within the context of breast cancer, as well as treatments for insomnia in this population. A review of the literature searched the databases Scopus, Web of Science and Sciello using Uniterms: insomnia, sleep, breast cancer, treatment, cognitive-behavioral therapy. The studies reviewed showed that the etiology of insomnia involves predisposing, precipitation and perpetuation factors. This study highlights the importance of improved quality of sleep in cancer patients, and indicates the combination of pharmacotherapy and cognitive-behavioral treatment for sleep problems.
Breast neoplasms; Insomnia; Cognitive-behavioral therapy