Fatigue is one of the most commonly reported symptoms in patients with cancer, occurring in as many as 90% of those undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Anaemia is a common cause of fatigue in all patients, and this is frequently exacerbated by the myelosuppressive nature of cancer therapies. Symptomatic anaemia may require palliative intervention with blood transfusions. Treatment with epoetin alfa [recombinant human erythropoietin; Amgen] has become an option for patients with cancer-related anaemia who are receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy. This intervention can correct the patient's anaemia as well as decrease their transfusion requirements. Experts at the 10th International Symposium on Supportive Care in Cancer [San Antonio, US; March 1998] reported that patients who respond to epoetin alfa appear to have improvements in fatigue and overall quality of life (QOL) that is independent of their tumour response to chemotherapy.