Fatigue Due To Chemotherapy

Key points to remember about fatigue due to chemotherapy

This page is part of a whole section about childhood cancer.

• many children with cancer experience fatigue
• fatigue in children with cancer is usually long-lasting (chronic)
• your child will need extra rest times to cope with their fatigue

Which children with cancer are likely to experience fatigue?

Many children with cancer experience fatigue. Many children are experiencing fatigue at the time of diagnosis. Most children with cancer experience fatigue during treatment.

Fatigue can interfere with your child's quality of life.

What causes fatigue in children with cancer?

People who look after children with cancer do not know exactly what causes fatigue in children and young people with cancer. 

Fatigue in children with cancer is usually long-lasting (chronic) and includes both physical and psychological tiredness.

Some of the things which may contribute to long-lasting fatigue are :

• fear and anxiety about treatment
• inadequate nutrition
• infection
• anaemia
• sleep disturbance
• altered mobility - for example, being less active than usual

What will my child with cancer need if they have fatigue?

Your child will need extra rest times to cope with their fatigue.