Are people who get less sleep more likely to get cancerbecause of their cells not being able to rest? how much sleep

Question: Are people who get less sleep more likely to get cancerbecause of their cells not being able to rest? how much sleep should a 13year old girl get each night?

Asked by alisonkatie to Gioia, Iain, Jo, Leo, Mariam on 16 Jun 2010 in Categories: Your Research.
- Joanna Watson answered on 15 Jun 2010:
  
  I don’t think we really know how sleep affects cancer risk yet – but there are lots of scientists who are researching it. They are researching things like whether people who work night shifts are at more risk of cancer and whether taking naps in the middle of the day affects your risk of cancer too.
- Mariam Orme answered on 16 Jun 2010:
  
  I don’t know of any links between lack of sleep and cancer. We don’t really know very much about sleep, and exactly why your body needs it, but we do know that not getting enough of it can be bad for you in many ways. I try and get 8 hours sleep a night, though sometimes when I’m really busy that doesn’t happen. So I suppose a 13 year old should get at least 8 or 9 hours sleep.

Question: Are people who get less sleep more likely to get cancerbecause of their cells not being able to rest? how much sleep should a 13year old girl get each night?