Fatigue at a glance
Cancer-related fatigue, whether a symptom of cancer or a side effect of treatment, includes unexplained, persistent, profound, and relapsing exhaustion, lasting a long time and not relieved by rest. It can be a substantial obstacle to quality of life during cancer treatment. Caregivers are also at risk of fatigue, and the therapies mentioned here may provide relief to caregivers as well as people with cancer.
Top practices and therapies for managing fatigue
The effects of these practices and therapies on fatigue are described on What approaches can help you manage fatigue? ›
Therapies and practices we have reviewed
Further therapies
Therapies recommended in clinical practice guidelines but that we haven’t yet reviewed; see guidelines ›
Energy therapies including external qigong and electromagnetics
Ginseng
Hypnotherapy
Light therapy
Massage therapy
Mindfulness-based approaches
Psychosocial therapies:
- Behavioral therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I)
- Information and counseling
- Mind-body stress reduction (MBSR)
- Psychoeducational therapies/educational therapies
- Stimulus control/sleep restriction/sleep hygiene
Other therapies
Several other therapies have some evidence of benefit. The benefit may be meaningful or even substantial, but our reviews show the evidence so far is preliminary. These are listed on What approaches can help you manage fatigue? ›