Fatigue and cancer

Fatigue is very common during cancer and its treatment. As many as three quarters (75%) of people with cancer feel fatigued at some time. Feeling excessively tired or exhausted all or most of the time can be frustrating and overwhelming. It can be especially difficult when you are already trying to cope with cancer. Fatigue may be due to the cancer itself, or a result of symptoms caused by the cancer. It can also be a side effect of treatment for cancer.

Fatigue is a major problem for many people with cancer and is recognised by health professionals to be at least as distressing and disabling as other side effects of cancer treatment.

The most important factor in dealing with your fatigue is telling your doctor or nurse exactly how you feel. There are ways in which they may be able to treat your fatigue. Treating the causes| of fatigue (such as anaemia or sleeplessness) can help to reduce it, so it is important to let your doctor know how you are feeling, without trying to play it down.

Research has shown that people with cancer find that fatigue is the symptom, or side effect, which is most disruptive to their daily life. It can reduce enjoyment of life, so it’s important to tell the health professionals looking after you how you feel, so that they can help you.

There are also things that you can do for yourself which may help you cope|.