Fatigue is very common among cancer survivors. Fatigue is excessive tiredness, which is unlike the day-to-day tiredness a busy person may feel. Learning how to cope with cancer related fatigue can help people find a better quality of life.
Information for cancer survivors and their families
- Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre (ACSC) fact sheet: Fatigue: dealing with cancer related fatigue
- Peter Mac fact sheet: Cancer fatigue – live better
- Cancer Council Victoria fact sheet: Coping with cancer fatigue
- MacMillan Cancer Centre booklet: Coping with fatigue (UK)
- MacMillan Cancer Centre online program: RESTORE (UK)
- American Cancer Society (ACS) website: What is cancer-related fatigue? (US)
- Cancer Council podcast: The thing about cancer – Managing cancer fatigue
- Springboard Beyond Cancer website: Fatigue – self management (US)
- Videos about cancer related fatigue: Directory of videos for patients, carers and survivors
Guidance documents
- European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (2020): Cancer-related fatigue: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment (EU)
- American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) report (2014): Screening, assessment and management of fatigue in adult survivors of cancer (US)
Additional resources for health professionals
- ACSC fact sheet for health professionals: Follow-up of survivors with cancer related fatigue
Projects
is now open to cancer survivors with persistent fatigue affecting their daily activities, more than 3 months after finishing cancer treatment. REFRESH is a supported self-help cognitive behaviour therapy program.Principal Investigator: Dr Elizabeth Pearson
For more information, please email [email protected]
If you would like to advise of any relevant projects or provide feedback please email, ACSC
Clinical services at Peter Mac Parkville
The following services are available to patients of Peter Mac, Parkville. If you are treated elsewhere, please speak with your oncology team, as you may have different clinical service options.
- Wellbeing Centre Group program: Let’s talk about fatigue. This session explores fatigue experiences and offers some simple strategies to help you cope with fatigue in everyday life.
- Occupational therapy services Occupational therapists can help you maximise independence, safety, comfort and personal satisfaction and, in doing so, improve your sense of well-being and quality of life.
- Physiotherapy services Physiotherapists and exercise physiologists can assist with mobility and physical function before, during and after cancer treatment
- Optimisation clinic This multidisciplinary outpatient clinic is for cancer survivors with complex needs.
Other clinical services in the Parkville precinct
Peter Mac is also part of the Parkville precinct (Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital), with services listed separately, above. If you would like to advise of any relevant services or provide feedback please email, ACSC. If you are treated elsewhere, please speak with your oncology team, as you may have different clinical service options.
