In this episode of Docs Talk Shop, Dr. Lemanne and Dr. Gordon explore how daily rhythms impact cancer treatment, brain health, and metabolism. Discover surprising ways to optimize your health by carefully timing your sleep, light exposure, and meals. (And think twice about late suppers!)

• Breast cancers spread at night, and why this means trouble if your largest meal is supper.
• In colorectal cancer patients, morning chemo benefits men, while afternoon chemo benefits women.
• Light exposure at night disrupts sleep in everyone, immediately increasing the risk of diabetes and cancer.
• Vigorous exercise instantly creates cancer-killing effects in the blood that last for two hours.
• A single night of poor sleep causes high blood glucose and junk food cravings the very next day.

References:

Metastatic spread of breast cancer accelerates during sleep. Nature 2022
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35732738/

Reducing nighttime light exposure in the urban environment to benefit human health and society. Science. https://www.science.org/doi/epdf/10.1126/science.adg5277. Accessed September 25, 2024.

Effects of anthropogenic light on health. Science. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adg3173. Accessed September 25, 2024.

Light disrupts sleep and metabolic health. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/04/01/1089997121/light-disrupts-sleep. Accessed September 25, 2024.

Disruption of sleep due to light exposure increases insulin resistance and heart rate. PNAS. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2113290119. Accessed September 25, 2024.

West KE, Jablonski MR, Warfield B, et al. Blue light exposure suppresses melatonin and impacts circadian rhythms. J Biol Rhythms. 2015;30(6):537-546. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30311830/. Accessed September 25, 2024.

Effects of artificial light at night on human health: a review of epidemiological studies. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2015;28(4):563-571. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26375320/. Accessed September 25, 2024.

Chronic sleep restriction minimizes circadian disruption, preserving glucose tolerance. Diabetes Care. 2021;44(3):839-844. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34744800/. Accessed September 25, 2024.

Circadian rhythms and cognitive function. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9743892/. Accessed September 25, 2024.

Hall J, Rosbash M, Young M. Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2017: research on circadian rhythms. Nobel Prize Press Release. https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2017/press-release/. Accessed September 25, 2024.

Light at night and increased stroke risk. Stroke. 2024. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240325172425.htm. Accessed September 25, 2024.

Association of light exposur

Dawn Lemanne, MD
Oregon Integrative Oncology
Leave no stone unturned.

Deborah Gordon, MD
Northwest Wellness and Memory Center
Building Healthy Brains