Fatigue is the most common side effect of cancer treatment. It's a feeling of severe tiredness experienced by many people who've had chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Some people who have surgery, hormone therapy or immunotherapy also have fatigue.
Fatigue due to cancer treatment is different from everyday tiredness. It can occur suddenly. Unlike everyday tiredness, it's not necessarily brought on by exercise or a long day's activity. Resting doesn't always help relieve the fatigue.
Fatigue can be overwhelming. It can touch many parts of your life.
Different people have different symptoms.
People with cancer treatment-related fatigue describe feeling weak, exhausted, sleepy, drowsy, weary, confused or impatient. Some people feel they just can't move. Others have tired or sore limbs and feel breathless, even after only a little activity.
For many people, cancer treatment-related fatigue is unlike anything they've experienced.
Cancer treatment-related fatigue is due to a range of problems.
It's common for chemotherapy to cause anaemia. This means there are fewer red blood cells to carry oxygen through your body.
Radiotherapy and, sometimes, loss of blood during surgery can also lead to anaemia.
Other things related to your illness can make you feel tired: not sleeping well, feeling stressed, having depression, coping with infections, some drugs, not exercising, and not eating properly. Treatments are available for some of these causes of fatigue, so it's important to talk to your doctor.
