What can help with pancreatic cancer fatigue?

For many people with pancreatic cancer, there are ways to manage fatigue – it’s not something you just have to put up with.

What's in the 'Fatigue and pancreatic cancer' section?

Fatigue and pancreatic cancer
What does pancreatic cancer fatigue feel like?
What causes fatigue?
What can help with pancreatic cancer fatigue?
Dealing with pancreatic cancer fatigue in your daily life
Supporting someone with pancreatic cancer fatigue

Getting some support can help you deal with fatigue. Your medical team, our specialist nurses on the Support Line, and local cancer support centres can all help.
Family and friends can also be a big support. They can also help with things like household tasks, childcare, or driving you to appointments.
Planning your time so you do more when you have more energy, and rest when you need to, can help manage fatigue. You could try using a diary to keep track of your fatigue.
Gentle physical activity may help with fatigue and increase your energy levels.

How can I deal with pancreatic cancer-related fatigue?

Because fatigue has a lot of possible causes, you might need to try a combination of things to manage it.

Your doctor or nurse may try to work out what is causing your fatigue and how bad it is. If they can find the cause they may be able to treat it. For example, treating symptoms or changing the treatment may help.

It’s not always possible to relieve fatigue completely. But there are other things you and your medical team can do to help you deal with it.

How can planning my time help with fatigue?

Try planning your time so you do things when you have more energy, and rest when you need to. This can help you deal with fatigue, and do more of the things you want or need to do. But it is important to pace yourself. Don’t try to do too much.

A fatigue diary can help you see when you have more energy and help you plan your time. A diary can also help you describe your fatigue to your medical team and show how any treatment you are having affects it.

What is an occupational therapist (OT) and how can they help with fatigue?

An occupational therapist (OT) helps people to carry on doing the things they want and need to do. This can include showing you different ways of doing a task and providing equipment to save your energy. They can also help you plan your time to make the most of the energy you have.

“You have to listen to your body and you have to take breaks. That’s the most important thing.”
Becki

Tips to help you plan your time

Plan to do activities when you have more energy and to rest when you need to.
Spread activities that require more energy over a few days. Don’t try to do everything on a good day, as it might make you more tired the next few days.
Set yourself small, realistic goals. Break larger tasks or activities into smaller parts.
Work out which activities are important, which you can get help with and which can wait. Focus on doing the important things, which should include things you enjoy. These can help you deal with stress and improve your mood. It’s fine to put off something that’s not important.
Use a fatigue diary to record when you have fatigue, how bad it is, and anything that makes it better or worse. Try to include things like having a shower or watching TV.
If you feel too tired to keep a diary, you could ask a family member to do it for you. Family and friends can also help you prioritise activities.
If you have a big event coming up, such as a birthday or wedding, plan your time so you have enough energy for it.

“I would plan for the fatigue if there was something coming up I needed to do, so I would ensure I was doing less on the day or two immediately before and after an event.”

Can physical activity help fatigue?

There is good evidence that gentle physical activity can help with fatigue and increase energy levels. Gentle physical activity is unlikely to make your fatigue worse. It can also help you feel better generally, improve your strength, and help you deal with stress.

For physical activity to help, you need to do it as regularly as you can. For most people, doing ten minutes of gentle activity three times a day would be suitable. It is important to do activity within your own limits. Take it easy and only do what you are able to. This will depend on how well you are. For example, you may not be able to do much if you are having chemotherapy.

Read about the types of activity you could try.

Tips to help you be more active?

Ask your medical team what physical activity you could safely do.
Speak to your doctor or nurse about being referred to a physiotherapist for support.
Try to include some gentle physical activity in your daily routine. Do activities you enjoy.
A few short activity sessions may be easier than one long one.
You might find that it’s easier to be active with a friend or relative. But make sure that you are in control. Don’t overdo it if the other person is able to do more than you.
Some people find it helpful to join a group. Some cancer support services run exercise courses for people with cancer, both in-person and online. Ask your GP about any services in your area.

“Listen to your body. Rest when it tells you. Exercise, such as gentle walking or light gardening, if you can manage it.”

How can I deal with negative thoughts?

You might find that fatigue gets you down and you start to think quite negatively. For example, you might think that you should be able to do more or cope better. You might worry that other people think you are lazy or not trying hard enough. Or you might feel that things will never get better.

Lots of people get these kinds of negative thoughts, but they can make it harder to deal with fatigue, and make the fatigue worse. If you have pancreatic cancer, it is normal to feel tired. Try not to feel guilty about not being able to do what you used to.

What can I do to help with negative thoughts?

Try to focus on positive things, such as what you can do, rather than what you can’t.
You might find it helpful to write down negative thoughts. This can help you deal with them. You could also write down positive things, as a reminder of what you can still do.
Get some support to deal with negative feelings and low mood.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help you find ways to deal with negative thoughts.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioural therapy is a type of talking therapy. It can help you deal with worries by changing how you think and feel about them. It may help you find ways to deal with fatigue and problems sleeping. It can also help with anxiety and depression.

CBT is available on the NHS.

If you live in England you may be able to refer yourself for CBT through the NHS website.
In Scotland, CBT is available through Living Life, a free NHS phone service.
NHS Wales offers free, online support through SilverCloud Wales.
In Northern Ireland, your GP can refer you for CBT.

You can also try the NHS self-help CBT website. Here you can find out about CBT, watch short video guides and try online self-help techniques.

Your GP can also refer you for CBT, or you can pay for it privately. If you have private health insurance, check to see if CBT is included.

“Fatigue has been one of the hardest things I’ve had to cope with because I lead such a busy life. I’m used to doing everything as a mum, as a wife and as a nurse. I find it quite frustrating at times that I can’t do what I used to do.”
Becki

Steroids to treat fatigue

Steroids are medicines that can be used to treat some symptoms and side effects, including pain and sickness. They may sometimes help with fatigue in the short term. There is some evidence that they may make it easier to do physical activity.

Steroids are not suitable for everyone, and they should only be used for a short time. If steroids are not taken properly, they can cause problems sleeping and stomach problems, so follow your doctor’s advice. Steroids can cause your blood sugar level to rise. Your doctor or nurse will need to monitor this if you have diabetes.

How can I get support to deal with fatigue?

Fatigue can be difficult to deal with and have a big impact on your life. Getting support can help you cope.

Support from family and friends

Family and friends can be a big support. For example, they can help with practical things like household chores or driving you to hospital. This can help you save energy for more important things. You might find it easiest to ask people to do specific tasks. You may find that people like being able to help in this way.

Family and friends can also provide emotional support, which can help you cope.

“My neighbours and my whole community really got behind me and offered to come and help clean the house, walk the dogs and take the children to school. It’s important if you feel you need help that you take it. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. And people want to help.”
Sharon

Your medical team

Your medical team can provide support. You should have a main contact in the medical team, who is often a specialist nurse if you are being cared for by the hospital. If you are being cared for at home, your contact may be a community or district nurse. Tell them about the fatigue, as they can help you find ways to manage it.

Palliative and supportive care teams

Palliative care or supportive care teams can help manage complex symptoms, including fatigue. They also provide emotional and practical support, and aim to help people live as well as possible for as long as possible.

These services aren’t just for people at the end of their life. They are available at any point during your treatment or care. Ask your GP, district nurse or medical team for a referral.

How we can help

Our specialist nurses on our confidential Support Line have the time to listen and talk through any questions or worries.
Through our community space, Circles, we can connect you to others affected by pancreatic cancer, including families and carers. Here you can connect with others via WhatsApp and Facebook groups; share the highs, the lows and everything in between with people who understand, who ‘just get it’.
You can also read other peoples’ experiences of pancreatic cancer.

Support from other organisations

Some hospitals may have specific support to help people understand and manage fatigue. Cancer support centres provide information and support. Some run courses or provide services such as counselling or complementary therapies. Examples include Maggie’s Centres and Macmillan information and support centres.

Social care

There may be times when you need extra support at home such as help from care workers with everyday tasks. Your local council’s social services may provide support such as:

help from care workers with everyday tasks, such as washing, dressing, preparing meals, or housework
equipment or adaptations to the home to make everyday tasks easier.

Speak to your GP or nurse for help organising care at home. Read more about getting care at home.

Can complementary therapies help with fatigue?

Complementary therapies include things like acupuncture, massage and meditation. Some people find that complementary therapies help them cope with fatigue. There isn’t a lot of evidence about them, and they are not suitable for everyone. But complementary therapies may help some people feel more relaxed and might help with other symptoms.

Don’t stop any cancer treatments if you have complementary therapy. It’s very important to speak to your medical team or GP before trying any complementary therapy as some may affect your cancer treatment. And tell your complementary therapist about your cancer treatment.

“A friend of mine sent me some meditation tapes, which I find quite useful. They give me the chance to go to sleep. You get lulled into the breathing and the exercises. That helps me with the tiredness.”
Mark

Doing things you enjoy

You may find that it helps to distract yourself from the fatigue. Try to focus on doing things that you enjoy. For example, you could see friends and family, do hobbies, or even just read or watch television. If you have a pet, you may also find that they help to distract you from fatigue.

“Keeping my mind occupied as much as I could helped, with projects on my laptop, watching TV, & listening to the radio.”

Dealing with memory problems

Fatigue can make it hard to remember things and concentrate. This is normal, but it can be frustrating. An occupational therapist may be able to help with this. Speak to your nurse if you are having a lot of memory problems.

Tips for dealing with memory problems

Try using a diary, sticky notes, or your mobile phone to remind you of things.
You could set an alarm if you need to remember something at a specific time.
Pill boxes help you plan your medicine in advance, so that you don’t forget to take it.
Write a list of the medicines you take, the dose and when you need to take them. Tick them off each time you take them.
Write a “to do” list of things you need to do.
Routines can help you to remember things. For example, taking medicines at the same time each day and having meals at regular times.

“Rest when you need to. Try and exercise a bit and get fresh air. Try and recognise when your tired days are during treatment and expect to have much reduced energy levels.”

What can help manage my fatigue?
Would it help if I saw a dietitian, occupational therapist or physiotherapist? Can you refer me?
Would CBT or counselling help with worries and fatigue? How can I access these?
Would complementary therapies help?
I have a special event coming up. How can I make sure I have the energy for it?
What can I do to help me remember things?
Are there organisations or support groups that can help?

More resources

Watch our video about managing fatigue

Which health professionals might be involved in my care?

How can I get support?

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

Bower JE, Bak K, Berger A, Breitbart W, Escalante CP, Ganz PA, et al. Screening, Assessment, and Management of Fatigue in Adult Survivors of Cancer: An American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Adaptation. J Clin Oncol 2014;32:1840-1850. DOI: 1200/JCO.2013.53.4495.
Haussmann A., Schmidt M.E., Illmann M.L., Schroter M., Hielscher T., Cramer H., Maatouk I., Horneber M., Steindorf K. Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials on Yoga, Psychosocial, and Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Cancer-Related Fatigue: What Intervention Characteristics Are Related to Higher Efficacy?. Cancers [Internet]. April-2 2022 14(8):no pagination
Pearson EJM, Morris ME, Di Stefano M. & Mckinstry CE. Interventions for cancer-related fatigue: A systematic scoping review and meta-analysis. Han Q., Yang L. European Journal of advanced nursing [Internet]. 19 May 2020.Cancer Care. 2018;27(1). doi: 10.1111/ecc.1251.
Zhang Y, Lin L, Li H, Hu Y & Tian Li. Effects of acupuncture on cancer-related fatigue: a meta-analysis. Support Care Cancer 2018;26:415–425. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-3955-6. Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00520-017-3955-6

Updated October 2025

To be reviewed October 2028