Skip to main content
search here
username password
Macmillan and Cancerbackup merged in 2008. Together we provide free, high quality information for people affected by cancer through our publications, website and phone service. Find out more| .
How we produce our information|
This section has been written for people who have fatigue due to cancer or its treatments. Fatigue means feeling excessively tired or exhausted all or most of the time. The tiredness is not relieved by rest and can affect you physically, psychologically and emotionally. People who have fatigue have no energy and find it difficult to do simple, everyday things that people usually take for granted.
‘Everything is too much effort. It is ridiculous. Just to comb your hair or get dressed is too much effort. It was as much as I could do to get out of bed or go to the loo. I couldn’t cope with doing the hoovering or anything like that – it is too much. I wouldn’t even be able to lift the vacuum cleaner.’ Quote from a woman having chemotherapy
‘Everything is too much effort. It is ridiculous. Just to comb your hair or get dressed is too much effort. It was as much as I could do to get out of bed or go to the loo. I couldn’t cope with doing the hoovering or anything like that – it is too much. I wouldn’t even be able to lift the vacuum cleaner.’
Quote from a woman having chemotherapy
This section aims to discuss the causes of fatigue and help you to find ways of coping with it. It can also help you to be able to discuss your fatigue with the health professionals looking after you.
Posted by lesley22
Posted by bob jk
Posted by Dianne J
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.
Browser does not support script.