Helping people with cancer sleep better, one night at a time.
Can-Sleep is a free, evidence-based resource designed to support better sleep for people affected by cancer. Whether you’re a patient or a healthcare professional, this site offers practical tools to help improve sleep and quality of life.
I’m a Patient or Carer
Explore strategies and support to help you manage sleep difficulties during or after cancer treatment.
I’m a Clinician
Access tools and guidance to help you support patients experiencing cancer-related sleep difficulties.
Why sleep matters
Sleep plays a vital role in physical recovery, emotional wellbeing, and overall quality of life – especially for people affected by cancer.
Poor sleep is very common, affecting up to 60% of people with cancer. It can be caused by treatment, side effects, emotional stress, or changes in routine. But the good news is that it can be improved.
When sleep improves, people often experience:
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Clearer thinking
Better memory, focus, and decision-making -
More energy
Reduced fatigue and greater motivation -
Improved mood
Less anxiety, sadness, and irritability -
Better pain management
Increased tolerance for discomfort -
Greater sense of control
Feeling more in charge of sleep and health
About this website
Can-Sleep was developed by sleep and cancer experts at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre with support from the Victorian Cancer Survivorship Program. The resource brings together decades of clinical expertise, research, and lived experience.
All strategies are grounded in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi)—the gold-standard treatment for persistent sleep difficulties—and have been adapted to meet the specific needs of people affected by cancer.
Privacy Policy
Information for statistical purposes
Unless this website asks for specific personal information, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre will only collect information relating to your use of the website for statistical purposes to assist Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in improving users’ experience of the site. Such information may include the:
- date and time of your visit
- pages accessed and documents downloaded
- referring site
- type of browser you are using
Google Analytics
Our website uses Google Analytics, a service which transmits website traffic data to Google servers in the United States. Google Analytics does not identify individual users or associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. We use reports provided by Google Analytics to help us understand website traffic and webpage usage.
By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner described in Google’s Privacy Policy-and for the purposes set out above.
Security of personal information
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre takes reasonable steps to protect the personal information it holds from misuse and loss, and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
While Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre endeavours to provide a secure online environment through its website, you should be aware that there are inherent risks associated with the transmission of information via the internet.
Where personal information is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was collected, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre will take reasonable steps to destroy or permanently de-identify such personal information.
Third party sites
Any links on this website to a third-party site are provided for convenience only and a link to a third party site is not an endorsement by Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is not responsible for the content and privacy policies of other sites, and recommends that you review each site’s privacy policy.
Cookies
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre’s website may use cookies to enhance some website functionality.
Cookies work by placing some information on your computer that is accessed by the website whenever you visit the site. In effect, the cookie helps the website “remember” you when you return to the site.
Internet browsers generally allow an individual to control whether they will accept cookies from a website. Individuals who choose not to accept cookies will still be able to access Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre’s website, but the user may notice that some website functions do not work properly or efficiently.
Enquiries and feedback
If you have any queries about Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre’s privacy policy or if you have any complaint about the handling of your personal information, contact Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre’s Patient Liaison Officer via switchboard on (03) 8559 5000.
Disclaimer
This website is established and maintained by the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute (Peter Mac).
Please ensure that you read the following terms and conditions carefully before using the website (Disclaimer).
By accessing the website, you agree that you have had an opportunity to read this Disclaimer and to seek any legal advice in relation to the Disclaimer.
The information contained in this website https://can-sleep.org.au/ (Information) is intended to provide general guidance only. The Information, including any recommendations, are not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and are designed to be general guidelines to support individuals with cancer
This website contains links to other websites. Although reasonable care is taken in selecting those resources, Peter Mac accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, currency or reliability of information contained in linked external websites.
Peter Mac does not warrant that the Information is free from errors or omissions. If you identify such errors or omissions, please contact the developers at [email protected]. Changes in circumstances after the time of publication may affect the accuracy of the Information, and the Information may be changed without notice.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Peter Mac excludes all liability and any implied warranties (by legislation or otherwise) in relation to:
a. the accuracy, currency, reliability, quality or suitability of the Information;
b. the performance of the website, including any functionality or features;
c. the security of the website or any links to external websites incorporated into the website;
d. the safety of any software associated with the website or any linked website;
e. title and non-infringement of third party rights; and
f. merchantability or fitness of the website for any particular purpose.
Despite any provision in this Disclaimer to the contrary, Peter Mac shall not be liable for any consequential, special, incidental, indirect or punitive losses, costs, expenses or damages, whether in contract, tort or otherwise (including negligence) arising out of or in connection with the website, even if Peter Mac has been advised of the possibility of that damage.
To the extent permitted by law, Peter Mac and its officers, employees and agents will not be liable to you for any damages you may suffer or cause as a result of your access to or use of the Information and you release, indemnify and hold harmless Peter Mac from any and all claims, demands, and damages of every kind and nature (including, without limitation, actual, special, incidental and consequential), known and unknown, suspected and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed, arising out of or in any way connected with your use of the website.
In the event that a court determines that Peter Mac is responsible for loss or damage arising from your access to or use of this website, to the extent permitted by law, Peter Mac’s liability is limited in any event to resupplying the relevant part of the website or the reasonable cost of having it resupplied, and Peter Mac reserves its options at law as to how it may discharge its obligations in relation to liability that cannot be lawfully excluded under these terms.
Peter Mac grants you a revocable licence to download, copy and print the content on the website for your personal use only. Any commercial use such as selling or licensing the content for a fee is prohibited. You may not transfer or assign this licence to any other party.
Any data, suggestions, or outputs on the website should be interpreted as general guidance only. The Information is not intended to replace clinical judgment, medical assessment, or individualised patient care.
This Disclaimer is governed by the laws in force in the State of Victoria, Australia. By visiting and using the website, you unconditionally submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Victoria and all courts with jurisdiction to hear appeals from those courts.
We encourage you to contact Peter Mac or a medical specialist or GP for further discussion and advice in relation to your particular medical circumstances.
Acknowledgements
We warmly acknowledge the consumers and clinicians who generously contributed their insights, experiences, and expertise to the development of the CanSleep resources. Their guidance has been invaluable in ensuring these materials are practical, meaningful, and responsive to the needs of people affected by cancer.
We gratefully acknowledge the Victorian Government, through the Department of Health (Victoria), for funding the development and the many subsequent alterations of this project. Their continued support has enabled us to refine and strengthen these resources to better meet the needs of people affected by cancer
Project Team
Dr Maria Ftanou
Director, Psychosocial Oncology Program
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Prof M. Michael Jefford
Consultant Medical Oncologist
Director, Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre
Research Lead, Survivorship / Living Well With And Beyond Cancer, Centre for Health Services Research
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Dr Joshua F. Wiley
Behavioural Medicine Unit
Monash University
A/Prof Kate Thompson
Director, Victorian Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Service
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Dr Lauren Williams
Senior Clinical Psychologist & Psychosocial Support Manager
Ovarian Cancer Australia
Emma Vaughan
Clinical Psychologist
Ovarian Cancer Australia
Andrew Murnane
Physiotherapist
Victorian Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Service
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Dr Jeremy Lewin
Director, Victorian Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Service
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Ilana Berger
Team Leader
Victorian Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Service
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Professor Martha Hickey
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
The University of Melbourne
Dr Jeremy Goldin
Clinical Associate Professor
Respiratory & Sleep Disorders Physician
Royal Melbourne Hospital