Health: Cancer patients beat fatigue

Cancer patients could soon be able to beat fatigue - thanks to pioneering new research. Nine out of 10 people having chemotherapy will experience chronic tiredness - an unpleasant side effect which affects their physical, emotional and psychological well-being. Most radiotherapy patients also suffer from the condition.

A team of nurses at King's College, London, led by Dr Alison Richardson, is working to discover if a self-help programme called Beating Fatigue can help. The Beating Fatigue programme aims to help patients tackle fatigue by teaching them different ways of managing it. The strategies include relaxation, light exercise and enjoying good hobbies.

"Fatigue is experienced by different patients in different ways, but it will always interfere with a person's ability to just get on with life as normal," explained Dr Richardson, a researcher for the Cancer Research Campaign.