{"entity":{"id":"cancer-related-fatigue","kind":"term","name":"Cancer-related fatigue (tiredness)","aka":["cancer-related fatigue","cancer fatigue"],"tldr":"Fatigue from cancer and its treatment is exhaustion that rest does not fix; for most people it improves after treatment ends, and physical activity, a regular sleep routine, eating well and planning the day around what matters most are the things shown to help.","summary":"Macmillan says \"fatigue is a feeling of tiredness or exhaustion. Cancer and cancer treatments can cause fatigue\" and that \"for most people, fatigue gets better after treatment finishes. But for some it may continue for months or sometimes years\". Causes it lists include the cancer itself, treatment, anaemia, eating problems and weight loss, pain, poor sleep and low mood. It advises that \"physical activity, such as walking quickly, is one of the best ways to help reduce symptoms of fatigue\", to \"try to keep to a normal sleep routine\", that \"eating well and keeping to a healthy weight can help you maintain or regain your strength\", and to plan the day \"so that you have energy to do the things that are most important to you\"; \"it is important to tell a member of your healthcare team if you have fatigue at any time\".\n\nCancer Research UK's bile duct cancer symptom page adds: \"let your doctor or nurse know if you're very tired as they might be able to prescribe medicine to help\", since treatable causes such as anaemia, low thyroid, infection or poor sleep are common. The site's records of exercise during chemotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy for fatigue carry the trial evidence behind these tips. This is orientation from public patient pages, not advice for your case: your own team's instructions and 24-hour number come first.","asOf":"2026-09-24","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer-related_fatigue","links":[{"label":"Macmillan: tiredness (fatigue)","url":"https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/tiredness"},{"label":"Cancer Research UK: controlling symptoms of bile duct cancer","url":"https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bile-duct-cancer/treatment/controlling-symptoms"},{"label":"Cancer Research UK: side effects of breast radiotherapy","url":"https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/breast-cancer/treatment/radiotherapy/side-effects"},{"label":"Pancreatic Cancer UK: fatigue and pancreatic cancer","url":"https://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/information-and-support/managing-symptoms-and-side-effects/fatigue-and-pancreatic-cancer/"},{"label":"Macmillan: managing symptoms of pancreatic cancer","url":"https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/pancreatic-cancer/controlling-symptoms-of-pancreatic-cancer"},{"label":"Fabi et al., cancer-related fatigue, ESMO clinical practice guidelines (Annals of Oncology 2020)","url":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2020.02.016"},{"label":"Bowel Cancer UK: sleep and fatigue","url":"https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/living-with-and-beyond-bowel-cancer/sleep-and-fatigue/"},{"label":"Cancer Research UK: living with bowel cancer","url":"https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bowel-cancer/living-with"},{"label":"Cancer Research UK: coping and support when you have lung cancer","url":"https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/lung-cancer/living-with/coping"},{"label":"Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation: living with lung cancer","url":"https://roycastle.org/learn-about-lung-cancer/living-with-cancer/"},{"label":"Macmillan: breathlessness","url":"https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/breathlessness"},{"label":"NICE NG131: prostate cancer, diagnosis and management","url":"https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng131/chapter/Recommendations"},{"label":"Prostate Cancer UK: fatigue","url":"https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information-and-support/living-with-prostate-cancer/fatigue"},{"label":"Lymphoma Action: cancer-related fatigue","url":"https://lymphoma-action.org.uk/information-and-support/side-effects-lymphoma-and-treatment/cancer-related-fatigue"},{"label":"Lymphoma Action: exercise and lymphoma","url":"https://lymphoma-action.org.uk/information-and-support/living-and-beyond-lymphoma/exercise-and-lymphoma"},{"label":"Lymphoma Action: recovery after lymphoma treatment","url":"https://lymphoma-action.org.uk/information-and-support/living-and-beyond-lymphoma/recovery-after-lymphoma-treatment"}],"tags":[],"related":[],"cancers":["gallbladder","tnbc","pancreatic","colorectal","lung-cancer","nsclc","sclc","prostate","non-hodgkin-lymphoma","dlbcl","follicular-lymphoma","mantle-cell-lymphoma","marginal-zone-lymphoma","malt-lymphoma","splenic-marginal-zone-lymphoma","nodal-marginal-zone-lymphoma","waldenstrom","primary-mediastinal-b-cell-lymphoma","burkitt-lymphoma","hodgkin-lymphoma","early-stage-classical-hodgkin-lymphoma","advanced-stage-classical-hodgkin-lymphoma","relapsed-refractory-hodgkin-lymphoma","nodular-lymphocyte-predominant-hodgkin-lymphoma","peripheral-t-cell-lymphoma","angioimmunoblastic-t-cell-lymphoma","cutaneous-t-cell-lymphoma","sezary-syndrome","primary-cns-lymphoma"],"sections":[],"technologies":["cbt-fatigue-distress","exercise-during-chemotherapy"],"targets":[],"drugs":[],"companies":[],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":["weight-loss-and-fat-digestion-biliary"],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":[],"keyPapers":[],"journals":[],"dependsOn":[],"notes":["Triple-negative breast cancer treatment runs for most of a year (about six months of chemo-immunotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, then pembrolizumab alone), so tiredness builds. Macmillan says physical activity such as brisk walking is one of the best ways to reduce fatigue, to keep a regular sleep routine and to plan the day around what matters most; Cancer Research UK says radiotherapy tiredness tends to worsen through the course and can carry on for some weeks afterwards before improving.","Pancreatic cancer: Pancreatic Cancer UK says fatigue is extreme tiredness that is not always linked to activity and that the cancer, its symptoms and its treatments all cause it. Macmillan says gentle strengthening exercise and walking reduce fatigue, that anaemia is a treatable cause, and that tiredness can also be a sign of depression worth raising. Poor digestion and untreated diabetes are two pancreatic-specific causes the dietitian can check.","Bowel cancer: Bowel Cancer UK's sleep and fatigue page treats tiredness as a symptom to report rather than something to endure, because anaemia, poor sleep, low mood and the treatment itself are separate and separately treatable causes. Gentle activity, a routine and a conversation about anaemia are the first steps; the ESMO fatigue guideline puts exercise and psychological support ahead of stimulant drugs.","Lung cancer: Cancer Research UK says tiredness and feeling lethargic much of the time are common during treatment and for some months afterwards, and also when the cancer has spread, and that resting but also doing some gentle physical activity can help. Breathlessness and anaemia are separate, treatable contributors: Macmillan says low red blood cells make you tired and breathless and may need a blood test and sometimes a transfusion, so tiredness is worth reporting rather than absorbing.","Prostate cancer: NICE NG131 (1.4.18) says to tell people starting androgen deprivation therapy that fatigue is a recognised side effect of the therapy and might not be because of their cancer, and (1.4.19) to offer supervised resistance and aerobic exercise at least twice a week for 12 weeks to reduce fatigue and improve quality of life. That is an offer the guideline makes, so asking for the referral is asking for something you are owed.","Lymphoma: Lymphoma Action describes cancer-related fatigue as extreme tiredness that is physical, mental and emotional, that is not relieved by sleep as ordinary tiredness is, and that can begin during treatment and continue for months or years. It appears in the charity's material both as a side effect and as a late effect. Several contributors are separately treatable, including anaemia and an underactive thyroid, and after radiotherapy to the neck a thyroid blood test is done once a year."],"category":"Side effects"},"route":"/terms/cancer-related-fatigue/","neighbours":{"cancer":[{"id":"advanced-stage-classical-hodgkin-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Advanced-stage classical Hodgkin lymphoma (stage III to IV)","route":"/cancers/advanced-stage-classical-hodgkin-lymphoma/"},{"id":"breast-cancer","kind":"cancer","name":"Breast cancer (all types)","route":"/cancers/breast-cancer/"},{"id":"burkitt-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Burkitt lymphoma","route":"/cancers/burkitt-lymphoma/"},{"id":"colorectal","kind":"cancer","name":"Colorectal cancer","route":"/cancers/colorectal/"},{"id":"cutaneous-t-cell-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome)","route":"/cancers/cutaneous-t-cell-lymphoma/"},{"id":"dlbcl","kind":"cancer","name":"Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma","route":"/cancers/dlbcl/"},{"id":"early-stage-classical-hodgkin-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Early-stage classical Hodgkin lymphoma (stage I to II)","route":"/cancers/early-stage-classical-hodgkin-lymphoma/"},{"id":"malt-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma)","route":"/cancers/malt-lymphoma/"},{"id":"follicular-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Follicular lymphoma","route":"/cancers/follicular-lymphoma/"},{"id":"gallbladder","kind":"cancer","name":"Gallbladder cancer","route":"/cancers/gallbladder/"},{"id":"hodgkin-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Hodgkin lymphoma","route":"/cancers/hodgkin-lymphoma/"},{"id":"lung-cancer","kind":"cancer","name":"Lung cancer (all types)","route":"/cancers/lung-cancer/"},{"id":"mantle-cell-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Mantle cell lymphoma","route":"/cancers/mantle-cell-lymphoma/"},{"id":"marginal-zone-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Marginal zone lymphoma","route":"/cancers/marginal-zone-lymphoma/"},{"id":"nodal-marginal-zone-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Nodal marginal zone lymphoma","route":"/cancers/nodal-marginal-zone-lymphoma/"},{"id":"angioimmunoblastic-t-cell-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Nodal T-follicular helper cell lymphoma, angioimmunoblastic type (angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma)","route":"/cancers/angioimmunoblastic-t-cell-lymphoma/"},{"id":"nodular-lymphocyte-predominant-hodgkin-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (nodular lymphocyte-predominant B-cell lymphoma)","route":"/cancers/nodular-lymphocyte-predominant-hodgkin-lymphoma/"},{"id":"non-hodgkin-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (all types)","route":"/cancers/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/"},{"id":"nsclc","kind":"cancer","name":"Non-small-cell lung cancer","route":"/cancers/nsclc/"},{"id":"pancreatic","kind":"cancer","name":"Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma","route":"/cancers/pancreatic/"},{"id":"peripheral-t-cell-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (including cutaneous T-cell lymphoma)","route":"/cancers/peripheral-t-cell-lymphoma/"},{"id":"primary-cns-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Primary CNS lymphoma","route":"/cancers/primary-cns-lymphoma/"},{"id":"primary-mediastinal-b-cell-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Primary mediastinal (thymic) large B-cell lymphoma","route":"/cancers/primary-mediastinal-b-cell-lymphoma/"},{"id":"prostate","kind":"cancer","name":"Prostate cancer","route":"/cancers/prostate/"},{"id":"relapsed-refractory-hodgkin-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Relapsed and refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma","route":"/cancers/relapsed-refractory-hodgkin-lymphoma/"},{"id":"sezary-syndrome","kind":"cancer","name":"Sezary syndrome","route":"/cancers/sezary-syndrome/"},{"id":"sclc","kind":"cancer","name":"Small-cell lung cancer","route":"/cancers/sclc/"},{"id":"splenic-marginal-zone-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Splenic marginal zone lymphoma","route":"/cancers/splenic-marginal-zone-lymphoma/"},{"id":"tnbc","kind":"cancer","name":"Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)","route":"/cancers/tnbc/"},{"id":"waldenstrom","kind":"cancer","name":"Waldenström macroglobulinaemia","route":"/cancers/waldenstrom/"}],"technology":[{"id":"rejuv-measure-epro-as-treatment","kind":"technology","name":"Asking people how they are, every week, as a treatment in its own right","route":"/technologies/rejuv-measure-epro-as-treatment/"},{"id":"rejuv-measure-cardiopulmonary-exercise-testing","kind":"technology","name":"Cardiopulmonary exercise testing: the hardest number in recovery","route":"/technologies/rejuv-measure-cardiopulmonary-exercise-testing/"},{"id":"cbt-fatigue-distress","kind":"technology","name":"Cognitive behavioural therapy for fatigue and distress","route":"/technologies/cbt-fatigue-distress/"},{"id":"rejuv-measure-eortc-qlq-c30","kind":"technology","name":"EORTC QLQ-C30: the questionnaire most cancer trials use","route":"/technologies/rejuv-measure-eortc-qlq-c30/"},{"id":"exercise-during-chemotherapy","kind":"technology","name":"Exercise during chemotherapy and radiotherapy","route":"/technologies/exercise-during-chemotherapy/"},{"id":"rejuv-access-exercise-programmes","kind":"technology","name":"Exercise is the best-evidenced thing on this front, and most survivors are not doing it","route":"/technologies/rejuv-access-exercise-programmes/"},{"id":"rejuv-measure-fact-and-facit","kind":"technology","name":"FACT-G and the FACIT family: the other main questionnaire","route":"/technologies/rejuv-measure-fact-and-facit/"},{"id":"cancer-related-fatigue-management","kind":"technology","name":"Fatigue after cancer treatment: what actually works","route":"/technologies/cancer-related-fatigue-management/"},{"id":"rejuv-life-return-to-work","kind":"technology","name":"Going back to work after cancer: the rates, and the programmes that change them","route":"/technologies/rejuv-life-return-to-work/"},{"id":"rejuv-measure-patient-reported-outcomes","kind":"technology","name":"How recovery is measured: the questionnaires behind the numbers","route":"/technologies/rejuv-measure-patient-reported-outcomes/"},{"id":"rejuv-measure-promis","kind":"technology","name":"PROMIS: the item banks that let a short questionnaire be precise","route":"/technologies/rejuv-measure-promis/"},{"id":"rejuv-mind-sleep-after-cancer","kind":"technology","name":"Sleep after cancer: how common insomnia is, how long it lasts, and the treatment that works","route":"/technologies/rejuv-mind-sleep-after-cancer/"},{"id":"exercise-prescription-after-cancer","kind":"technology","name":"The exercise prescription after cancer: the dose the guidelines state","route":"/technologies/exercise-prescription-after-cancer/"},{"id":"rejuv-measure-functional-tests","kind":"technology","name":"Walking, gripping and standing up: the tests that take five minutes","route":"/technologies/rejuv-measure-functional-tests/"}],"term":[{"id":"lymphoma-living-fatigue","kind":"term","name":"Fatigue after lymphoma treatment, and why it is a symptom to report","route":"/terms/lymphoma-living-fatigue/"},{"id":"lymphoma-living-returning-to-work","kind":"term","name":"Going back to work after lymphoma, and the money in the meantime","route":"/terms/lymphoma-living-returning-to-work/"},{"id":"weight-loss-and-fat-digestion-biliary","kind":"term","name":"Weight loss, fat digestion and enzymes with gallbladder cancer","route":"/terms/weight-loss-and-fat-digestion-biliary/"}]}}