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Cancer Fatigue: Supportive care - Patient Information [NCI]

This information is produced and provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The information in this topic may have changed since it was written. For the most current information, contact the National Cancer Institute via the Internet web site at http://cancer.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER.

What is cancer fatigue?

Cancer fatigue is a condition caused by cancer or cancer treatment in which you feel exhausted or extremely tired. Some people with cancer have extreme fatigue most of the time and are unable to carry out day-to-day tasks. Others feel only very tired. Cancer fatigue may also be called cancer-related fatigue or cancer treatment-related fatigue.

Cancer fatigue is different from fatigue you may have felt in the past. When a healthy person is tired, fatigue is usually caused by activity and goes away after resting or sleeping. However, cancer fatigue is not completely relieved by sleep or rest and may happen after no or minimal activity.

Cancer fatigue is common

Cancer fatigue is one of the most common side effects of cancer treatment. More than 80% of people with cancer experience fatigue while receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Cancer fatigue can occur at any time

Fatigue can begin at any time—before, during, or after cancer treatment. Sometimes it's an early symptom of cancer, or it can be brought on by the stress of a cancer diagnosis. Fatigue may worsen gradually as you go through treatment, or it may come on suddenly. Fatigue usually decreases after cancer treatment ends, but some people may still feel fatigue for months or years.

Cancer fatigue can affect many areas of your life

Fatigue can affect not only your daily activities but also your family, work, and social life. Although cancer fatigue can feel overwhelming, your health care team can help you find ways to manage, treat, and cope with fatigue that are tailored to you.

Cancer fatigue symptoms

Whether and how you experience fatigue depends on factors such as the type of cancer, stage of cancer, cancer treatment(s) you are receiving, and your overall physical and emotional health, nutrition, and sleep patterns.

Symptoms of cancer fatigue include:

Causes of cancer fatigue

Cancer itself, cancer treatments, and the side effects of treatment can cause fatigue. Additional sources of fatigue may be stress, changes to your schedule, and other medical conditions.

Fatigue from cancer

Sometimes the source of fatigue in someone with cancer is the cancer itself. Cancer cells use calories and nutrients that your body needs for energy, making you feel fatigued. Cancer can also cause your body to release cytokines, naturally produced substances that help your body to fight infections and cancer but that can cause fatigue when released at high levels. Cachexia, a wasting syndrome that causes muscle and weight loss in some people with cancer, can also lead to fatigue.

Certain types of cancer are more likely to cause fatigue than others.

Fatigue from cancer treatments

Many cancer treatments can reduce your energy level. Each treatment may affect fatigue differently, and the treatment's schedule and dose can influence how fatigued you are and when you feel most tired. Receiving more than one treatment can increase fatigue.

Fatigue from side effects of cancer treatment

Some side effects of cancer treatment can cause or worsen fatigue.

Fatigue from the emotional impact of cancer

Having a major illness such as cancer can cause you to feel anxious, worried, or fearful. High levels of distress can lead to physical problems such as fatigue, insomnia, and appetite loss. Learn about common emotions experienced by people with cancer and ways to cope.

Sometimes people experiencing fatigue develop depression. Although it's normal to feel down at times, depression is more serious. Learn about distress and anxiety as well as symptoms and treatment for depression.

Talking with your doctor about cancer fatigue

Tell your health care team if you feel very weak and tired—especially if you are not able to do your normal activities or are still very tired even after resting or sleeping.

Your doctor may give you a chart, log, or fatigue diary to help you record your energy level and fatigue each day. This information, together with medical tests, can help your doctor determine the best way for you to manage or cope with fatigue.

Questions to ask your doctor, nurse, or social worker about cancer fatigue

Medical tests used to assess fatigue

Your health care team may check for medical conditions that contribute to fatigue. They'll perform a physical exam and blood test to check for anemia or infections.

Your health care team may also ask a series of standard questions about how tired you feel and how it is affecting your daily life. This is called a fatigue assessment. Your health care team will repeat this assessment to see if there is a pattern for when fatigue starts or becomes worse and how to best prevent, manage, or treat it. The same method of measuring fatigue is used at each assessment. This helps show changes in fatigue over time.

Treating cancer fatigue

Your health care team will often treat fatigue by relieving related conditions. They'll choose a treatment based on your symptoms and whether they know what's causing the fatigue. When the cause of fatigue is not known, your doctor will treat your symptoms and teach you ways to manage or cope with fatigue.

Medical treatment for cancer-related fatigue

Managing cancer fatigue

Eliminating fatigue is not always possible, but there are ways to help lessen or manage cancer-related fatigue. Talk with your health care team about things you can try. Some possibilities include:

Getting support if you have cancer fatigue

If you have fatigue from cancer, you or your caregivers may need help coping. Know that you are not alone and seek support from family and friends and your health care team.

Last Revised: 2023-12-13


If you want to know more about cancer and how it is treated, or if you wish to know about clinical trials for your type of cancer, you can call the NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-422-6237, toll free. A trained information specialist can talk with you and answer your questions.



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