Can pins and needles, numbness in arms and hands, when asleep be a sign of cancer? also get occasionally pins

Not really: Usually it means you slept on your arms and cut off the nerve supply temporarily. You might try to change your sleeping position. If you get abnormal nerve sensation at other times, see a neurologist for a work up.

Time of symptoms?: If your symptoms are transient, then it is likely related to temporary compression of your blood flow to that extremity (e.g. Foot falls asleep) or a pinched nerve. If your symptoms are persistent it could be a sign of something more serious. You might have an anatomical anomaly that is causing a change in blood flow, or a tumor that could compress a blood vessel or nerve.

Not really: If it is happening while asleep , I do not know how you feel those experiences . In any case if this is not happening all the time particularly while awake , it is most likely some benign process . Even if it is happening all the time it is sign of what we call peripheral neuropathy which is caused by multiple condition . Diabetes is by far the most common cause

very unusual: Pain , numbness and tingling when awakening in the morning to the arms and hands are usually from a positional stress on the nerves coming from the neck. Called a neuropraxia. Or limbs "going to sleep" rare cases, tumor could cause the symptoms but would not get better during the day and likely would be progressively worsening. See your doctor for evaluation and possible referral to neurology