Author: Leo Flor

Being in the best shape of my life before cancer and the leanest I had been in years was the result of a good coach, Jason, and my discipline and determination to be healthy, lean and strong.

Getting hit with a breast cancer diagnosis was not only shocking but devastating. There has been blessings in this journey. I felt like I was punched between the eyes and told to stop. The focus now was taking care of me in a different way. I thought I was committed to self-care. After diagnoses, I realized that I was doing the bare minimum. I have friends, family and coworkers doing the same thing. The life lesson was to learn what exactly was self-care and what/who is truly important in life. I have amazing family and friends and have met wonderful people, doctors, psychologists, physiotherapists, kinesiologists, social workers, oncologists, friends, cancer survivors and their families during this journey. All who have taught me something important about myself and life. Thank you! 😊❤️❤️

Recovery from cancer treatments has been quite the journey. Filled with self-blame for how I feel, my lack of energy, my inability to do what I did before cancer, weight gain and other things was due to factors that I thought I could control.

For months, I struggled with my body hurting and feeling drained yet I looked healthy, focused on being grateful for life, family, friends, and kept smiling. People complimented me and some wondered why I wasn’t back to work yet. Many cancer survivors understand the struggle and some go back to work prematurely only to be sick again or diagnosed with a recurrence. Treatment impacts everyone differently.

I experience brain fog, intense fatigue, neuropathy, joint and bone pain, muscle spasms and other side effects. When I take walks, do activities and attend events, I feel happy but there is the cost of increased fatigue. Rest doesn’t help. I pushed myself harder to only feel exhausted for a few days. I didn’t understand why.

In November 2025, I attended Cancer Fatigue Services and completed a medical assessment. I now have a collaborative care plan. Part of this was understanding why I feel the way I do and why the struggle with my energy.

Cancer treatments work by damaging the DNA or growth signals of rapidly dividing cells to stop them from multiplying. During recovery, the body shifts from fighting the disease to regenerating healthy cells and repairing the DNA damage caused by treatment. At a cellular level, recovery means your body is finally redirecting its energy from fighting off the disease and treatment to regenerating healthy cells and repairing tissue damage.

How This Affects Daily Life

• Physical Fluctuations: You may feel a mix of progress and setbacks as your stem cells work to rebuild tissues and your immune system gradually reboots.
• Persistent Fatigue: Even after treatment ends, many survivors experience a deep, long-lasting exhaustion that isn’t always fixed by sleep, as the body’s “powerhouse” mitochondria are still recovering.
• Emotional “Roller Coaster”: It is common to feel a range of mixed emotions, such as relief that treatment is over combined with anxiety or fear about the cancer returning.
• Adjusting to a “New Normal”: Recovery often involves adapting to permanent changes, such as scars, altered energy levels, or “chemo brain,” which requires finding a new baseline for what feels normal for you.

For example, I couldn’t understand why I showered and brushed my teeth and didn’t have the energy to get dressed right away. I sat down to rest. I was thinking what the %$$# is wrong with me. After this assessment, my anaerobic threshold was extremely poor. My body was only producing enough energy for basic survival, even a simple task such as showering required 100% of my available cellular fuel, leaving me completely exhausted. When I met with the oncologist and he explained to me how treatment impacted me, I cried and said so it isn’t my fault I didn’t keep my fitness up and let myself go yet I was doing fitness and eating nutritious foods (still had treats).

I returned for a follow up assessment with CFS for the police community not Centre of Forensic Sciences. 🤣 I had a small improvement in the anaerobic threshold which is promising. To compare the activities, doing laundry would utilize this level of energy. I take many breaks and push myself to improve.

This program along with Cancer PEP – Patient Empowerment Program, Wellspring, Sudbury Hyperbaric and Wound Care and Health Sciences North – NEOCC and my doctors have been impactful in my healing and recovery. I am grateful for this support. Now instead of taking care of the community, I am using the community supports available to me to heal.

Yes, CTV didn’t spell my name correctly and assumed that I worked locally.

— – Written by: Angela

Covid changed everything!!
After having worked for the Provincial and Federal governments for 15 years and directed/facilitated seniors’ programs for 30 years – I was lucky I was able to retire just before the lock-down. We adapted, went online to find resources to cope, support and maintain communication with family and friends, and create communities through zooms. I wanted retirement to be creative, joyful and supportive – I wanted to continue with my passion of supporting seniors.

I had been enjoying 8 years of “Indian Healing Dance” classes for seniors, led by the unstoppable Munni Subani, our professional classical Indian dancer/teacher. As lock-down started, Munni figured we had to take the classes online to support isolated seniors, and asked me to help coordinate. What a learning curve! Within months, 150 of us in Canada and around the world were having fun meeting up twice a week to dance and keep mentally, physically and socially connected.

February 1st 2024 changed everything, again!
Munni passed away, on the same day I was diagnosed with breast cancer (Grade 3, Stage 1). The news slowly settled into my bones. I was determined to stay positive, and felt carried and miraculously connected to all the support angels as needed: a wonderful medical team of Anna Robinson (NP), NYGH, Dr. P. Fishman (Oncologist), Dr. Y. Botros (Surgeon), Liam & Martha (Naturopathic Drs.), CCNM Integrative Cancer Programs Jin Wang (CM Acupuncturist). My Husband, Son, family and friends were right there helping with anything I needed. And boy did I need them!!! Being the independent organizer that I was, it sure was a lesson in love and vulnerability. I was surrounded by caring people and wondered how others who did not have the support they needed managed. I felt blessed.

The surgery in February was not difficult. I kept driving and meeting up with people while supporting my immune system with nutrition and care. Chemo was a different story – it started mid-April and it knocked me out! I had never been so aware of how exhausted and frail we could become in such a short time. By August, the radiation series compounded the exhaustion, and then I started the 7 years of daily Anastrozole (Arimidex) medication. Each treatment was taking a toll on my body and mind, and I was determined to fight the challenges with all the supports that I could access and afford.

The physical exhaustion/fatigue shocked me, stopping me in my tracks. I would hit a wall after about 20 minutes of going about daily tasks – walking, sitting, or moving. As my body suddenly lost all its energy, and with the neuropathy in my feet, I felt like I might fall if I didn’t sit immediately. This made me realize I had to embrace the journey and do things to stay positive or I’d be lost. The fatigue was frustrating, yet I knew I had to keep moving or lose any muscle and strength I had. I knew it would get worse, as some of the many Arimidex side effects over 7 years included bone loss, neuropathy, brain fog, dizziness, depression, etc.

Using recordings Munni’s husband generously gave me, I started running online zoom classes twice a week for 20 of Munni’s zoom dancers. I also taught myself how to administer Munni’s website – it helped support my mental fog. I pole-walked with my neighbour in my condo hallway and driveway; did online seniors’ HASfit exercises with my husband Andrew; went for weekly physio and therapeutic massages; safely had friends and family visits, and attended Wellspring programs online to keep my spirits up, but the fatigue and side effects were unrelenting.

My car had been sitting in its parking space for over a year, so by June 2025, I decided to sell it. I became overwhelmed by the realization that I was moving further from independence. While I kept working on a number of areas (nutrition, exercise, social and mental fitness), I was barely holding my head above water – with the fatigue always holding me back.

In November 2025, my wonderful CCNM Integrated Cancer Program referred me to Cancer Fatigue Services. The program started with thorough assessments by physicians and physiotherapists. They kindly and patiently questioned all aspects of my journey and how my body and mind were handling the challenges of cancer fatigue. The report I received from Dr. Bain put together a story that helped me see the holistic reality of what I was going through. It was encouraging to know that I was doing all the right things, and had all the right supports, but it was great to know I could overcome some of the fatigue that I had taken for granted as being an unavoidable part of my journey.

The results of the thorough Cardiopulmonary Testing showed that my heart and lungs were working at 55% of their capacity. They said that the reason I had been crashing after 20 minutes of activity was that my body switched to accessing anaerobic energy from my cells – which was very hard to maintain. The Cancer Fatigue Services staff put together a report and plan for me to increase my aerobic energy while raising my anaerobic threshold.

Three weeks ago, I started my program with incredible support from Matthew on the Cancer Fatigue Services Team. I’ve been working on a recumbent bike at high, medium and low exercises levels to 70’s music, while my heart and fatigue levels are constantly monitored. By the second week, I felt a shift that allowed me to breathe better, and to feel more relaxed, while being aware of stopping before I reached exhaustion. I am starting to feel energetic and not hit the exhaustion wall as often. I’m also getting back to not running out of breath while singing or talking, and I am cutting back on my asthma puffers and Fisherman’s Friends. 😊

I cannot tell you the immense relief of knowing that some of the debilitating fatigue, I had thought I would have no control over, is not something I have to just accept. Even though I will have to continue with my medications and support the bone and muscle loss, neuropathy and other expected side effects for the next 5 and 1⁄2 years, with all the support I have put in place – I can do it with a positive spirit. I feel very lucky that this ground-breaking, science-backed Cancer Fatigue Program, which has only one location at this time in Canada, is only 15 minutes away from my home.

This program gives me great hope. It is a program that all cancer patients who suffer from fatigue due to treatment should be able to access across Canada. I hope this happens sooner rather than later, as there are too many who suffer from, or who accept, cancer fatigue (including the medical community) as being a part of the journey. Patients and the medical community need to realize that cancer fatigue – or at least part of it – is something that can be overcome.

I thank all who have and are supporting me through this ever-changing cancer journey.

—- Written by: Stephanie Alexander

I was diagnosed with Colon Cancer in May 2025. I experienced symptoms a couple months before my 50th birthday. (Screening for this type of cancer begins at age 50).

Immediately after the colonoscopy the doctor took me and my fiancé into a room and explained that he saw a tumor and it was cancer. It was surreal. That moment remains clear in my memory.

After that, despite moments of extreme emotion alternating with the out-of-body surreal, I felt a fire inside me – preparing me to be capable of hard things.

A few weeks after diagnosis I had sigmoid colon resection surgery. I was an excellent patient! Recovery went well. I walked and gardened, being gentle on the surgical site. I tried manifesting a best-case scenario biopsy result. I imagined a powerful version of myself overcoming this disease. I visualized my body healing and being cancer-free.

Well, the biopsy results were out of my control. The cancer had gotten out beyond the wall of the colon and was labelled Stage 3. I saw an oncology team at Northumberland Hills Hospital (a wonderful small-town hospital) to get things rolling. I would need 6 months of FOLFOX chemotherapy. Before chemo started, there were CT scans, MRIs, and a PET scan. Suspicious lesions were deemed most likely benign with no metastases. The stress waiting for the results of these scans was one of the most difficult times during my cancer journey.

I needed to tip the balance between stress and positivity. I researched, read books written by cancer survivors, and lined up all the resources I could before treatment started. I needed to plan. I needed my family supports to know how to help me and how to help themselves. I needed to control my fate as best as I could while I was relatively healthy, before chemo started. I am so grateful for my family and friends, my workplace and Wellspring therapy and support groups. They all helped cheer me on, connect to other cancer thrivers, and hold me in a hopeful place.

Despite trying so hard to keep a positive attitude, my motivation waned part way through treatment. My fire became an ember. I felt I was just “getting through” each day. Each day during and post-chemo can be a massive feat. I tried to manage fatigue, nausea, and neuropathy. There were days when my main accomplishments were getting up and drinking fluids. This was nothing to be ashamed of when going through treatment and healing. Sometimes we need to be gentle with ourselves. We deserve to celebrate small wins.

I reached out to CCRAN (Colorectal Cancer Resource and Action Network) and found incredible support via dietician, Cancer Coach, Support groups, and one on one discussions. CCRAN listened and helped me move forward. When learning of my drop in energy and positivity, they recommended I connect with Cancer Fatigue Services.

Cancer Fatigue Services tailored an exercise plan based on my body’s capacity. The goal was (and still is!) to reduce fatigue, to strengthen my body, and to reduce the risk of recurrence of cancer. I became focused on exercise targets, was motivated by the compassionate staff (especially Matt!).

Working with Cancer Fatigue Services was one of the best choices I have made on my cancer journey. I am physically stronger. I have energy. I feel empowered to manage my health. I got my fire back.

My story starts in the spring of 2016 with a sudden sharp pain about where my stomach is, when I got in to see a doctor in the family clinic that we were members in he suspected an ulcer. At the time I mentioned that my flow was reduced as well. His response was that they only deal with one issue at a time. As it turns out they were both symptoms of prostrate cancer and if he had done a simple digital exam he could have diagnosed my cancer then and there and saved me months of scans and tests and not knowing. I will never again accept the statement that they will only consider one issue at a time, and I suggest that you don’t ether.

One of the aforementioned tests was a look inside my bladder with a camera. When I registered at the hospital I was given a gown and told where to change then wait in the waiting area. When the nurse called me for the procedure she asked the same questions that I answered at the reception desk, when I asked why she asked questions that I had already answered she said they had to make sure they had the correct patient to which I thought if they knew why I was here there isn’t a man in town that would pretend to be me. The Urologist subscribed to the bandage theory (the faster you pull the less it hurts), if any Urologists are reading this the bandage theory doesn’t apply in this case. I suspect that he had trouble getting the camera past my prostrate because once he was done with the camera he did a digital exam and said my prostrate felt funny and yet he wasn’t laughing. So he cancelled the procedure that would have sent a camera passed the bladder to the kidneys and instead booked a biopsy.

When doing a prostrate biopsy they use an ultrasonic probe to guide the needle, when inserting the probe he said I would feel a little pressure, he was lucky he was behind me where I couldn’t see him because it felt like he shoved a cucumber halfway up my but, and not one of those skinny English cucumbers. If you are ever in BGH and you see finger sized dents in the rail of a gurney it might have been me.

It took some time to get the results, (I think the Urologist had them for a little while) but when they did come in I was a 10 out of 10 on the Gleason scale. When the office called to tell me the results were in I asked if I could come to the office now and they said yes, it was one of very few times my wife didn’t come with me as she was shopping when the office called, and since she wasn’t home when I got home, and this wasn’t news that should be delivered over the phone or by text, I simply texted “bring home some mix”. I was well into my second double (triple) Kraken (dark rum) on the rocks when she did get home, so I added a little coke to my drink and filled her in on what I could remember. The hardest part of this whole journey was the call to tell our sons that I had cancer, not knowing if I would be able to beat it or not. The one thing that the Urologist did right was to get me into the Juravinski cancer clinic right away.

My treatments started with chemo and one day I was about an hour into a three hour bag when I noticed a security guard in the entrance way, something I had never seen before, a short time latter a woman went by wearing a level “A” fully encapsulizing hazmat suit. The next time a nurse came close I asked what was going on and she said there was a chemo spill. To which I thought you are going to extraordinary measures for cleanup, and yet you are pumping it into my arm.

After months of chemo my next course of treatment was chemo on Monday and radiation 5 times a week for 7 weeks with the last treatment on December 20th. On the 20th the technician said that the side effects would continue to get worse for about a week which took me to Christmas, (Merry F#$K!N Christmas) anyone that has had radiation therapy knows how fatiguing it is. After Christmas the fatigue started to get better, but months later my energy never got above about 70%.

I should mention that I am a retired Toronto Firefighter (35 years), and also a City of Brantford Councillor for over 20 years. In the years since my treatment I have had to pass on seeking the nomination for both MP and MPP strictly due to the lack of energy from my cancer fatigue. I recently heard someone say that it takes 2 months of recovery for every month of treatment to get over the fatigue. To that I say HOGWASH my fatigue has gotten worse especially since the spring when the pharmacy changed the dose of my hormone therapy without telling me which resulted in me taking a double dose for about a month, as a result I can’t climb stairs without pulling on the handrail or on all fours if there isn’t a railing. As luck would have it the Mayor was unable to attend a cancer survivors event being held in Brantford and I attended to bring greetings in his stead, and that is where I found out about the Cancer Fatigue Clinic.

As I write this I have started my third 6 week prescription, and while progress is slow and at times it seems that I have traded cancer fatigue for exercise fatigue at least things are now going in the right direction. It was week 5 when I first noticed the improvement, we travelled to Vancouver to visit our son and daughter in law I was able to maintain a faster walking pace than I expected even when going up slight inclines that would previously slowed me to a snails pace. However it was after lunch that I noticed something else, the walk to the washroom that was just across the food court and down a short hall and back wiped me out. So I believe that when my body is busy digesting food I don’t have the energy to do much else, and now plan my activities accordingly.

I was a little skeptical about the program but my quality of life has dropped so far I was willing to try anything. And with each retest I have had a slight improvement. So as I said at the start don’t let anyone dictate a lack of treatment, insist on the treatment you need and deserve. And good luck with whatever stage of treatment or recovery you are currently experiencing. And wish me luck as I continue working to regain my life.

Greg Martin

By Elvira S.

When I think about how everything started, my mind always returns to October 2021. It had been only six months since my mother passed away when I heard the words that changed my own life: “You have breast cancer.” I was diagnosed with right breast invasive ductal carcinoma, grade 2 with DCIS. My daughter was just 12 years old, and my husband stood beside me, speechless. In that moment, nothing felt certain anymore.

I tried to remind myself that I was lucky it was caught early. But even early cancer brings its own storms. After two lumpectomy attempts that winter, I eventually needed a right breast mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction in 2022. Two months later, I went back to work because I thought staying busy would help me stop thinking about the disease. I chose not to take adjuvant therapy, convincing myself I would be fine.

But life had other plans.
Two years later—again with no symptoms and found only through routine checks—I faced a second diagnosis: left breast DCIS, intermediate to high grade with central necrosis and macrocalcifications. One lumpectomy led to another mastectomy and reconstruction in 2024. It felt like my body kept surprising me in ways I never asked for.

When the Fatigue Took Over

In February 2025, after all the surgeries, I tried once again to return to work. What I didn’t expect was how deeply fatigue would hit me. Not regular tiredness—this was something heavier, something that swallowed up my focus, my energy, even my confidence. Just a few weeks in, I had to go back on sick leave. I couldn’t explain to my family doctor what I was feeling. All I knew was that something was off. I was exhausted in a way that didn’t make sense.

That’s when I started searching “cancer fatigue,” hoping to understand what was happening to me. I came across Cancer Fatigue Services Toronto and instantly noticed their logo: one person reaching out a hand to lift another up. It made me feel seen before I even clicked. I took their Fatigue Analyzer test, and the results confirmed what my body already knew—my fatigue levels were high.

After talking to friends who had heard positive things, I booked an appointment.

Feeling Heard for the First Time

In my first visit, I completed a physical CPET exam and then spent almost an hour talking with Dr. Bain. At the end of that conversation, I said something I didn’t expect: “I feel better because someone actually listened to me for an hour.” That moment alone felt like a turning point.

As I continued with the clinic, I met specialists who helped me understand what was happening in my body—why fatigue can be so intense after cancer, and what can be done about it. Scott shared research on mitochondria and how they “get happier” with the right kind of exercise. For the first time, I felt empowered. I learned that I wasn’t powerless—I had some control. And that gave me the motivation I needed.

Learning to Live with Energy Again

I committed to the program. Phase by phase, over six months, something began to change. My afternoons didn’t automatically end in naps anymore. I could do more around the house. I started feeling…like myself again. Not the same as before cancer—but a version of myself who understood her body better, who knew how to protect her energy instead of burning it all at once.

The support I received made a difference. The Fatigue Peer Support Group showed me I wasn’t alone. The Cognitive Rehabilitation Program with Luana and Peter helped me navigate the mental side of fatigue. Matthew and Amy guided me through exercises, checked my form, and helped explore chronic pain I had been ignoring. And Tim—who had to patiently deal with me in the early days when I wouldn’t even share my birth date until I felt comfortable—thank you.

Each staff member at the clinic played a part in helping me make it through all four phases of the program.

Looking Back — and Forward

Cancer changed my life twice. Fatigue changed it again. But learning how to manage it, how to understand it, and how to honor my limits has changed me in the best way.

I’ve learned that it’s okay to rest.
It’s okay to ask for help.
And it’s possible to find energy again, even when it feels lost.

To anyone else facing cancer-related fatigue:
You’re not weak. You’re not imagining it. And you don’t have to go through it alone.

Kudos to everyone who has helped me on this journey.
I am deeply grateful.
I love you all.

— Elvira S.

As a childhood cancer survivor of over 20 years and as someone who currently works in paediatric oncology, I feel as though I am able to navigate the system relatively well. I’ve seen first-hand the incredible resources that exist for survivors of childhood cancer. At the same time, I’m also aware of the gaps that still need to be addressed.

For a long time, I didn’t even realize I was dealing with fatigue – I just thought feeling tired and sleeping poorly was my “normal” after cancer, a long-term effect of all the treatment. Looking back, I can see how much it was actually affecting me.

I am a bit skeptical of psychosocial resources in Ontario, especially as a childhood and AYA (adolescent & young adult) cancer survivor. I have tried a number of them and many are just education, cost a lot of money or put the responsibility solely on the patient to continue to follow through with the action.

I met Scott (Dr. Adams) MANY years ago and we had crossed paths over the years. So when Scott reached out I was a bit skeptical of this new service. I walked everyday between 2-5km, had no issues with my daily living and felt pretty healthy but there were moments when I was tired. I didn’t think I needed these services. We had a meeting and I asked A LOT of questions, many repeatedly and I still was like BUT WHY?

The bike was the hardest part for me to grasp – I walk, I get done what I need to get done I don’t understand, why does it have to be the bike. I asked this like a broken record.

Nevertheless, I gave it a shot. I did the assessment and the CPET (cardiopulmonary exercise test) and I didn’t realize how unhealthy I was when I received my initial testing numbers.

So I did the 6 week plan. When I went in to do my repeat CPET and talked with Matt and Scott and I had to eat my words. I don’t understand it but it worked, I got energy back. I don’t get why I had to use the bike but something about it was different and it worked.

No one does anything about fatigue in the cancer community. We all hear about it as a possible side effect but what happens when you are done treatment and you need additional assistance, there is no one to help walk you through the process aside from just go exercise. Cancer Fatigue Services helped me – I have the numbers to prove it – and they also did it with me so I didn’t feel like I had to solve the problem alone.

Written by Robert

Everyone has their own answer for this phrase based on their own experiences, and everyone is right because it is their experience. Many years ago, I heard someone complete this phrase by explaining that life is not just what you plan and work out using a formula, good career decisions, having the right connections, etc…. But, life is the interruptions. In other words, some of the biggest tests and outcomes in life occur when they happen without plan or expectation, and when they come seemingly out of nowhere.

Prior to my diagnosis, life was good. Of course it had it’s challenges, but I was prepared to face them. I had relatively good health, a good career, a loving family…in many ways my life was very stable and obstacles were just meant to be worked through and overcome.

When I received my diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in early 2021, we were all learning how to get through the Covid existence. Although a surprising diagnosis, as I was feeling fine and had no ailments other than a lump that appeared on my neck, it was just going to be another challenge to overcome. I remember talking with my hematologist, saying that I had intended on living a long life. After all, I had plans! Life was busy, but I was in control. This was just another obstacle, right? Life keeps you busy.

The process of diagnosis, treatment and gaining information about my newfound illness was all so quick. Given that it was an aggressive lymphoma, I was in an appointment with my hematologist/oncologist within 2 days and had begun treatment within a few weeks. It was a new challenge, a new experience. I’ve had challenges before… I figured them out. I tripped up at times, sure, like everyone else, but I managed to always be successful and come out on top. Sure, there was a lot more at stake this time, but I was game. Life is a game.

The staff at Princess Margaret Hospital were incredible to say the least. Like a clock, they seemed to function meticulously, accurately and oh so organized, in spite of the fact that there were so many people to manage: faces that were filled with fear, resignation, hope, concern. But I was going to get through this…. just show me the path and I’ll be back to a normal life in no time. I just had to show up, spend a day every three weeks hooked up to an IV pumping those chemotherapy drugs in me that were going to make everything better, learn to live with the (hopefully) short-term nausea and fatigue, and then move on with life. Life is like clockwork.

Towards the end of treatment, scans were completed. Yay, the cancer was gone and I did not have to go through the last treatment session. I was so glad…I didn’t want to share with those around me that I didn’t think I had it in me to do one more treatment…chemo was taking everything out of me and I almost felt I had nothing left. Physically, I felt I was at rock-bottom… I truly felt my body and my soul were broken. I was weak, constantly tired, at times unable to finish sentences because it took too much energy. All I needed now was to get back to normal and life will be good. Life is about hope.

The next stage…. recovery. I asked my hematologist “how long will it take before I’m back to normal, before I can go back to work and a regular life?” The answer was along the lines of “hmmm, ahem, well, everyone is different and everyone recovers differently… some people go back to work after 3 months, and some people never go back.” I only heard the part that “some people go back to work after 3 months”… this was going to be me.

Friends, family and acquaintances were all mostly supportive, to the point that they could understand (can anyone really understand without going through something?). I was grateful for the support. The regular and constant question was “when are you going back to work?”, to which I answered regularly “hopefully in 2-3 months.” 2-3 months later, I was in no shape to go back to work. Although the fatigue improved somewhat, there were still some issues with stamina, cognitive challenges and even confusion. I was surprised at myself that I did not have the energy to be patient and understanding of those around me, which was uncharacteristic. “2 or 3 more months and I should be back at work” I would continue to tell my employer and those around me. And the cycle began, in that every 2-3 months I was not ready to go back. I had learned about the term cancer fatigue and brain fog – I was beginning to think I was the poster child. The cycle of expecting to go back to work soon but not being able to, continued, over and over. After awhile I wondered if it were just me… was it all in my head? Am I just out of practice? Do I just need to force myself to work harder at things? Life can sometimes be wearisome.

I engaged with various health practitioners, trying various supplements and treatments hoping it would make a difference with my fatigue levels. And after months and months of interventions, nothing was different. It was becoming clear to me in comparison to our vast understanding of cancer and how to treat it, the understanding of recovery from chemotherapy treatment seemingly paled in comparison. There was no clear, quick path… at least it did not seem so. Treatments varied. Maybe they worked for some…. they weren’t working for me. One practitioner encouraged me to eat 3 dark chocolate bars every day as there was research that showed dark chocolate can help with energy and fatigue levels. Life can be confusing.

I began the cycle of trying something new, seeing little to no change, going into a bit of a depression, and then trying something new again. I searched and searched for something different, something evidence-based, some intervention that truly understood cancer fatigue and related challenges. I sought out numerous interventions and informed my medical team and insurance company of them, to which they pretty much said “sure, sounds great.” Everything was a shot in the dark with the hope that it would facilitate positive results, but these results were not happening. Often practitioners in these fields were using interventions that they used for other maladies, hoping that there would be some benefit for me. But they were not. It began to feel like no one seemed to truly understand what I was going through and that the fatigue issues related to cancer treatment was obscure and not within the scope of treatment. The idea of going back to work did not even seem like a goal anymore. I stopped answering the question of when I was going back, and people stopped asking. It felt like I finally needed to come to the difficult conclusion that life will never be the same, and that I would need to learn to live my life differently than I had, with fatigue and cognitive and physical challenges. Life can be humbling.

As I continued my own research and exploration of how to deal with cancer fatigue, I came across an ad for Cancer Fatigue Services (CFS). Was this just another clickbait ad with empty promises? I quickly went to the webpage with cautious optimism. It looked promising, and so I decided to try one more intervention. After an assessment and discussion with members of the CFS team, I began to feel that finally there was some understanding of what I was going through and that it wasn’t just in my head. I decided to commit to the program not knowing what to expect. Life is about taking risks.

With CFS, I got the validation that cancer fatigue is indeed real and not just in my head. I was presented with the challenge of a professional exercise plan that was tailored to my circumstances, my physical abilities, and was adjusted as I progressed …something that you hear about that only professional athletes have access to. It was a plan that wasn’t going to break the bank. I now had an intervention that was going in the right direction. I was finally getting answers to questions, answers that were steeped in research. Life can be fortuitous.

As I reflect on my experiences with CFS, I am reminded of the critical impact of working with professionals who are knowledgeable, caring, empowering and compassionate, and how this approach has contributed to overall wellness for me. I continue to experience a true partnership with CFS, as they truly understand what it is like living with cancer fatigue. Although some levels of fatigue still persist, I feel stronger and my stamina has improved.

Life is not the same after a battle with cancer. The hard reality is that this interruption has changed me and requires me to approach life in a new way. Having a powerful intervention like CFS has contributed significantly how I now continue with this journey.

Life is…. life.

By Norkael (Kael) Limdy, BKin

Cancer changed the course of my life not only as a patient, but now as someone supporting people going through their own cancer journey. I was still in school at Ontario Tech University, studying kinesiology, when I was diagnosed with a rare spinal sarcoma cancer. One moment, I was learning about how the human body functions. And the next moment, I was facing chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and multiple spinal reconstruction surgeries. Everything I thought I knew about health, strength, and recovery suddenly became no longer textbook but, deeply personal.

The treatment journey was long and intense. I spent months going through chemotherapy and radiation, followed by years of rehabilitation as I adapted to life after surgery. I had to relearn how to walk, move, how to manage pain, and how to live in a body that felt very different from the one I was familiar with.

Looking back, I realize I was experiencing cancer-related fatigue, but at the time, I did not have a name for it. I only knew that even basic tasks felt exhausting. Exercise, school, and especially my social life all took a toll. For years, I felt as if I was isolated, not just physically but emotionally too. I was afraid of regression, unsure of how to rebuild and make new relationships, and often felt ashamed of how much my body had changed. It was like life had moved on without me while I was standing (mostly sitting) still.

However, when I found Cancer Fatigue Services (CFS), it truly changed everything.

The CFS team, welcomed me with open arms and built a personalized care plan that helped me regain strength, reduce pain, and slowly return to the things I love doing. Exercise programs were designed to target my core and back muscles, improve my posture, and support my daily movement with precision and care. But it was not just about physical function. It was also about the joy, independence, and feeling like myself again that stood out differently compared to treatments I have received in the past.

As my body got stronger, so did my confidence. This summer, for the first time in years, I felt like I could really live again. I have met new people, travelled, tried new things, and reconnected with the world around me. Not as someone who had cancer, but as someone who is moving forward with my purpose. In fact, this September, I am happy to share I will be running a 10K at the Toronto Zoo. It is more than just a race. For me, it is a celebration of how far I have come both physically and emotionally.

What makes it even more meaningful to me, is that I now work as part of the Cancer Fatigue Services team. Supporting people who have walked a similar path that I have been on, has been incredibly fulfilling. I have had the privilege of assisting with Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing’s, helping patients with their exercise care plans, and contributing to the patient outreach and advocacy efforts. The involvement has allowed me to support people living with cancer-related fatigue in practical and effective ways. Being able to support people on their journey and see their quality of life improve first-hand has been incredibly rewarding. It is clear to me now that fatigue does not have to define the experience, and with the right care, we can regain energy, confidence, and hope for the future.

My lived experience allows me to care with empathy and understanding. I know how difficult it is to feel exhausted, overwhelmed, fear and unsure about the future. But I also know that with the right support, recovery is within reach.

Before I found Cancer Fatigue Services, I had already begun studying prosthetics and orthotics at George Brown College. Inspired by my own recovery and the spinal orthosis that helped me walk again. Now, with training in both respected fields; rehabilitation and cancer-related fatigue care, I hope to help others regain their mobility, independence, and confidence. Cancer Fatigue Services did not just help me recover. They helped me rediscover who I always was. They reminded me that healing is not only about the body, but about self-identity, connection, and purpose.

We do not just treat, we relieve fatigue and restore hope through rebuilding strength, restoring confidence, and reconnecting with life.

And I am proud to be part of that journey, for myself and for you.