Signs of cancer: Unexplained tiredness
Unexplained tiredness is one of the most common signs of cancer in young people. Use this page to find out more about what to do if you notice you’re experiencing this.
- If you’re noticing that you’re feeling very tired all the time, you should see your GP
- It’s important to give the GP as much information as possible during your appointment
- Below you’ll find more information about how you can best present your symptoms to the GP
When should I go to the GP?
If you’re feeling really exhausted all the time and a good night’s sleep isn’t helping you feel any better, you should go and see your GP.
This is different to normal tiredness. You might feel really tired if you’ve had a busy day, done a lot of exercise or had a late night. But usually you’ll feel better once you’ve had a decent night’s sleep or two.
If sleep isn’t making you feel any better and you’re constantly feeling like this, then you need to speak to your GP as this could be a sign of cancer.
What should I tell the GP about my symptoms?
It’s important you tell your GP as much as you can about the tiredness you’re experiencing. It might be hard to remember exactly what you noticed and when, but we’ve put together a list of questions you can answer to make sure you give your GP as much info as possible.
Not all GP appointments will be in person, you might speak to your GP on the phone or via video call first. Even if you’re not speaking to your GP in person it’s still really important to give as much information as possible.
You can copy and paste this list below into the notes app on your phone or a Word document, or you can write down your notes in a notebook and take it to the appointment with you:
- How does the tiredness make you feel?
- How long have you been experiencing it and when did you first notice it?
- Is there anything that makes it feel better?
- Is there anything that makes it feel worse?
- Have you changed your diet or exercise schedule at all recently?
- How do you feel after a good night’s sleep?
- How would you normally feel after a good night’s sleep?
- Are there any other changes to your body that you’ve noticed?
What could it be?
Unexplained tiredness could be a sign of lots of different types of cancer. Using the pages below you can find out more about the other symptoms associated with each of these types of cancer.
Again, it’s important to remember that having any of these symptoms doesn’t mean you definitely have cancer, but if you notice anything unusual you should book an appointment to see your GP.
Most common signs of cancer in young people
PIF TICK accredited information
The Patient Information Forum is the UK membership organisation and network for people working in health information and support. The PIF TICK is the UK-wide Quality Mark for Health Information.