Tiredness with cancer (fatigue)

Fatigue means feeling very tired, exhausted and lacking energy. It can be a symptom of the cancer itself or a side effect of treatment.

Many things can cause fatigue in people with cancer. This includes the cancer itself and the type of treatment you might have.

Before you’re treated for fatigue, your doctor will need to ask questions. These are about how you feel, your day to day life, and any treatment you are having.

There are different ways to manage fatigue and the symptoms you might have. It is important to tell your nurse or doctor if you think you may have fatigue.

Many people with cancer say fatigue is one of the symptoms that impacts them most. Researchers are investigating what causes fatigue and how to treat it.

There are support organisations and resources available to help people cope with symptoms and side effects caused by cancer and its treatment.