Fatigue
Cancer related fatigue affects people in many ways. It is a feeling of exhaustion or extreme tiredness caused by cancer or cancer treatment that can be more severe, longer lasting and less likely to be relieved by rest than typical fatigue. The effects can vary from one person to another, but often include physical and psychological consequences. These consequences can have an impact on peoples family, work and recreation activities. There are also emotional consequences caused by not being able to do the things they want to do.
Examples of these can be seen below:
- Difficulty doing and finishing the smallest tasks
- A feeling of having no strength
- Lack of concentration or motivation
- Trouble thinking, speaking and making decisions
- Difficulty remembering things
- Feeling breathless after light activity
- Dizziness or feeling light-headed
- Difficulty sleeping
- Loss of sex drive
- Feeling more emotional than usual
- Difficulty performing tasks at work
- Being unable to undertake hobbies and other enjoyable activities
- Feeling emotions such as frustration as you cannot do the things you want to do, or guilt if you can no longer do the things you want to do for other people.
You read Shaneta’s experience of the impact of fatigue here:
Shaneta’s story
‘I was very active and independent before my cancer. I live alone and used to go to several clubs every week; a book group, dancing and golf, but after my treatment I was just too tired to manage them all. I felt guilty about letting the others down and frustrated that I couldn’t do everything I wanted to do.’
If you experience fatigue related to your cancer, you could consider trying the following:
- Try some light physical activity, such as gardening or a short walk.
- You can use a diary to notice when in the day or week you feel most tired and plan activities when you are less fatigued. You can also use it to reflect back over time over time and notice any changes using this symptom tracker.
- Set goals to help you keep as active as possible, e.g. using the diary to work out when in the day or week you can do certain tasks such as cooking.
- You could try relaxation techniques and breathing exercises to relax the body and mind.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can help to change your relationship to your fatique and help you to learn to live with it.
- For many people fatigue makes many things harder in their job. If it is impacting your work you should speak with your employer. By law, cancer is considered a disability and so your employer must make reasonable adjustments to your role if needed. You can find out more about speaking with employers here.