Fatigue and pancreatic cancer

• Fatigue is extreme tiredness. It isn’t the same as just feeling tired. You might feel both mentally drained and physically exhausted.
• It can impact your daily life, making it harder to do things like work and household tasks.
• Fatigue isn’t always linked to how much activity you have been doing.
• People often find fatigue hard to cope with as you may not be able to do things you have always done.

References

We have listed some of the references to the sources used to write this information. If you would like the full list of references, email us at publications@pancreaticcancer.org.uk

• Bootsma T.I., Schellekens M.P.J., van Woezik R.A.M., van der Lee M.L., Slatman J. Experiencing and responding to chronic cancer-related fatigue: A meta-ethnography of qualitative research. Psycho-Oncology [Internet].  01 Feb 2020 29(2):241-250
• James S, Wright P, Scarlett C, Young T, Jamal H, Verma R. Cancer-related fatigue: results from patient experience surveys undertaken in a UK regional cancer centre. Support Care Cancer 2015;23:2089–2095. doi: 10.1007/s00520-014-2565-9
• Mustian KM, Alfano CM, Heckler C, Kleckner AS, Kleckner IR, Leach CR et al. Comparison of Pharmaceutical, Psychological, and Exercise Treatments for Cancer-Related Fatigue A Meta-analysis. JAMA Oncol. 2017;3(7):961-968. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2016.6914
• National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®). Cancer-related fatigue. Version 2.2022. [online] Available from: https://www.nccn.org/guidelines/guidelines-detail?category=3&id=1424

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following people who reviewed this information.

• Monica Castro, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh
• Roopinder Gilmore, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
• Jonathan Hartley, Accredited Counsellor, Supervisor, Trainer, Consultant, Rixon Therapy Services
• Dr Joe Hutchinson, Academic GP, Loughborough University, Funded by the Wellcome Trust
• Ollie Minton, Macmillan Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Pancreatic Cancer UK Lay Information Reviewers
• Pancreatic Cancer UK Specialist Nurses