雖然醫療科技日新月異，癌症末期病人並沒有因為現代醫學的進步而減少，反而有增加的趨勢。因為末期病人對治癒性的治療已經沒有反應，病人會因癌症的持續進展及抗癌治療過程產生的副作用，使整體器官功能逐漸衰退，除了身體的痛苦外，更有心理、社會及靈性上的痛苦與需求。因此發展整體性的照顧模式，給予癌末病人身、心、靈的全人照顧，全力提昇癌末病人的生活品質實為當務之急。根據過去的研究，疲倦是癌末病人最常見的症狀。疲倦是一種主觀的症狀，其原因是多方面的，包括身體、心理、社會、文化、靈性等因素。所以要改善癌末病人的疲倦症狀，必須對其相關因素、形成機轉及評估方法有深入的瞭解，才能給予病人藥物及非藥物的整體照顧，讓病人即使在器官功能逐漸衰退的情況下，也能擺脫疲倦的困擾，獲得生活品質的提昇。

　　　　　The terminal cancer patients, refractory to curative treatment, are increasing in number, even though medical technology has made a rapid progress. During the terminal phase of cancer, not only general condition is deteriorated gradually because of advanced malignancy and side effect from anticancer treatment but also associtates with psychosocial and spiritual sufferings. It is very urgent to establish a hospice palliative care model for terminal cancer patients to promote their quality of life. Fatigue is the most common symptom of terminal cancer patients. It is a subjective symptom caused by physical, psychological, social, ansd spiritual factors. To improve patients' fatigue, we should have a comprehensive understanding of its associated factors, mechanism, and clinical assessment. To provide terminal cancer patients with total care is the way to improve their quality of life, even if their physical performance is deteriorated gradually.