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Author: Leo Flor

Welcome to the Team!

Written by Leo Flor on . Posted in Clinic News, What’s New.

We are pleased to have recently welcomed two new members to the Cancer Fatigue Services dream team!

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Peter: Championing Health, Equity & Empowerment Through Advocacy and Storytelling

Peter Laneas

Peter has been living beyond cancer and has dedicated over 15 years to advocacy, having overcome cancer twice. His lived experience provides a unique and valuable perspective to our team, allowing us to test ideas and assumptions in an effort to refine and deliver the best healthcare experience possible. He is an inspirational and passionate speaker on key social issues, including intimate partner violence, LGBTQ+ concerns, and cancer survivorship. We are incredibly fortunate to have Peter’s objective viewpoint and expertise in supporting those we aim to help.

Peter will co-facilitate the support groups we have organized for individuals experiencing cancer-related fatigue, With his blend of knowledge, experience and humour, facilitating these discussions is something that comes naturally to him. (See a young Peter on this panel of young adults talking about living with cancer.)

“People without cancer will never understand how complex survivorship is post-treatment.”

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Dr. Martin Chasen: Cancer Care Trailblazer, Bridging Science and Compassion

Dr. Martin Chasen

Dr. Chasen’s experience, expertise and most importantly his values align very well with the mission of Cancer Fatigue Services. The excitement and enthusiasm Dr. Chasen has shown in the work he is doing echoes in the highly positive feedback we have received from individuals who have seen him for their comprehensive fatigue assessments, counselling and care plan delivery encounters. Dr. Chasen uses a whole-person approach and communicates openly with those living with and beyond cancer, also recognizing the vital role of caregivers in their journey.

Once we started talking to Dr. Chasen, we knew that we were aligned in our mission. Serendipitously, we learned that he played a key role in establishing the Cancer Nutrition Rehabilitation (CNR) programs in Montreal and Ottawa which sounds very similar to the same type of multidisciplinary, person-centred care model we aspire to create here at Cancer Fatigue Services. 

Listen as Dr. Chasen discusses the goals of the CNR program and the role of the multidisciplinary team (3:47 – 5:02). The video also talks about how we can show the government that money can be saved in the long run by providing better support for individuals who are living post cancer treatment (13:40 – 15:11). Collecting evidence to justify improved government support for this vulnerable population was already one of Cancer Fatigue Services’ endeavours!

This quote from Dr. Chasen in the video sounds like it came from a foundational visioning session for Cancer Fatigue Services!

“The role of the multidisciplinary team is to have the patient in the centre of all the action and the professionals around the patient each contributing what they are experts at to the benefit of the patient. The patient is actually the leader of the team.”

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We are honoured and privileged to welcome Peter and Dr. Chasen to the team!

When you are ready, they are ready to support you and will be delighted to welcome you to our clinic.

Contact us with any questions and feel free to use our booking calendar to schedule your Free Consultation.




References:
Current Oncology: Cancer nutrition and rehabilitation – its time has come!

Caring for the Caregiver: Why Taking Care of Yourself Matters

Written by Leo Flor on . Posted in Families & Caregivers, Support & Caregiving Tips.

Being a caregiver for someone who is living with or after cancer can be both rewarding and exhausting. Whether you are caring for a spouse, parent, child, or friend, the role often requires significant physical, emotional, and mental energy. While it is natural to focus all your attention on the well-being of the person you are caring for, it is essential to not neglect your own health and well-being. Self-care for caregivers is not only crucial for your own health but also for your ability to provide effective care. In this article, we will explore the importance of taking care of yourself as a caregiver and provide practical tips on how to do so.

Why Self-Care is Essential for Caregivers

Caregiving is a demanding role, often leading to stress, exhaustion, and burnout. According to research, caregivers are at a higher risk for health problems such as anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and chronic conditions like heart disease. When caregivers do not take time to care for themselves, they may become overwhelmed and less effective in their caregiving duties. This can lead to a cycle of stress that ultimately affects both the caregiver’s health and the care recipient’s well-being.

Moreover, caregiving is a marathon, not a sprint. Whether the person you care for is recovering from treatment or living with cancer-related fatigue, caregiving can go on for months or even years. Without proper self-care, caregivers may experience burnout, which not only harms their own health but also diminishes the quality of care they provide. In this way, looking after your own needs is an investment in your ability to continue caring for others over the long term.

Practical Ways to Care for Yourself as a Caregiver

Taking care of yourself as a caregiver does not mean taking a break from your responsibilities—it means finding balance and ensuring that your physical, emotional, and mental health are prioritized. Here are some practical ways you can maintain your well-being while caregiving:

  1. Prioritize Physical Health

Your physical health is the foundation of your ability to care for someone else. If you neglect it, you will find it harder to meet the physical demands of caregiving. To prioritize your physical well-being:

  • Get enough sleep: Caregivers often sacrifice sleep to provide care, but this can lead to increased stress and health problems. Try to establish a regular sleep routine, and ask for help when needed so you can get rest.
  • Exercise regularly: Physical activity reduces stress and increases energy. Even a short daily walk can make a difference in your physical and mental well-being.
  • Eat nutritious meals: Caregivers may skip meals or rely on unhealthy fast food due to time constraints, but eating a balanced diet is crucial for maintaining energy levels and overall health.
  1. Take Breaks and Ask for Help

It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking you need to do everything yourself. However, no one can be a caregiver 24/7 without risking burnout. It is important to take regular breaks, even if they are short. This might mean taking a walk, reading a book, or simply enjoying a few minutes of quiet time.

  • Share the responsibility: If possible, reach out to family members, friends, or professional caregivers to help share the load. This can provide you with much-needed respite and allow you to recharge.
  1. Manage Stress

Caregiving can be stressful, and stress that goes unmanaged can take a toll on both your physical and mental health. Here are some strategies for managing stress:

  • Practice mindfulness: Techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga can help calm the mind and reduce stress. Taking a few minutes each day to center yourself can have a lasting impact on your well-being.
  • Stay organized: Caregiving often involves managing medical appointments, medications, and daily routines. Keeping a schedule and making use of tools like calendars or reminder apps can help reduce feelings of chaos and stress.
  • Seek emotional support: Caregiving can be an emotional rollercoaster. Talking to a therapist, counselor, or support group can provide an outlet for your feelings and help you process your emotions.
Yoga On The Beach
  1. Make Time for Social Connections

Caregivers often become isolated as they focus their energy on their loved one. Maintaining social connections, however, is vital for mental and emotional health. Regularly connecting with friends, family, or other caregivers can provide support, reduce feelings of loneliness, and remind you that you are not alone in your journey. Even if you do not have time for long visits, brief phone calls, virtual chats or even exchanging a handful of text messages can help you maintain your social circle.

  1. Set Boundaries and Manage Expectations

It is essential to set boundaries with your time and energy. This includes learning to say no to requests that are beyond your ability to manage. You do not have to be available all the time, and you do not need to feel guilty for setting limits. Similarly, understand your limitations—there is no shame in acknowledging that you cannot do it all. By managing expectations and setting realistic goals, you can avoid the stress of overcommitting.

Why Self-Care Benefits Your Loved One

Taking care of yourself not only helps you but also benefits the person you are caring for. When you are physically healthy, mentally sharp, and emotionally balanced, you are better equipped to provide high-quality care. You will have the energy and patience needed to assist with daily tasks, make decisions, and provide emotional support. In turn, the person you care for will experience less stress and feel more secure knowing that you are well-supported.

When caregivers neglect their own well-being, they become overwhelmed, irritable, or emotionally distant, which can strain the caregiver-care recipient relationship. By practicing self-care, you cultivate a more positive and nurturing environment for both yourself and your loved one.

Conclusion

Being a caregiver is an incredibly important role, but it is also one that requires careful attention to your own well-being. By prioritizing self-care, you not only improve your own health but also enhance the quality of care you provide. Remember, taking time to care for yourself is not selfish—it is necessary. By finding balance, managing stress, and seeking support, you can continue to be a compassionate, effective caregiver while maintaining your own health and happiness.



References:
American Cancer Society Journal: Cancer caregiving predicts physical impairments: Roles of earlier caregiving stress and being a spousal caregiver
Cleveland Clinic: Caregiver Burnout

The Cancer Fatigue Services Difference

Written by Leo Flor on . Posted in Community & Advocacy, Wellness Tips & Tricks.

Cancer-related fatigue is common, but it is NOT normal.

It is arguably the most burdensome and prevalent (or common) symptom reported by people living with and after cancer. Most people accept cancer-related fatigue as part of their ‘new normal’ because they do not think there is anything that they can do about it. We created Cancer Fatigue Services to challenge this false narrative, relieve fatigue, and restore hope for you and the thousands of people needlessly suffering from this treatable but widely unaddressed health issue.

Cancer Fatigue patients of all demographics

Cancer-related fatigue is complex.

Without dedicated support, you and other individuals experiencing cancer-related fatigue are forced to: 

  1. Guess the causes of your fatigue, potentially resulting in the misuse of your precious time, energy, and financial resources; 
  2. Coordinate, schedule and attend appointments with multiple healthcare professionals who do not communicate with one another and may have conflicting opinions;
  3. Independently organize and understand the overwhelming number of tests and expert opinions resulting from these appointments;
  4. Make your own combined fatigue treatment plan by doing research to identify which treatments are most likely to improve your fatigue and the best order to do them in;
  5. Monitor your progress, overcome obstacles and setbacks, and keep yourself on track throughout your treatment plan; and,
  6. hope it will work.

—  OR  —

You can book an appointment with Cancer Fatigue Services!

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Just reading that list is exhausting, which is why we have carefully created a complete healthcare service that simplifies and supports every aspect of your fatigue-related care.

We deliver compassionate, personalized, accessible, and affordable multidisciplinary healthcare for people living with cancer-related fatigue. Cancer Fatigue Services is different – from our peer-led, person-first concierge healthcare model to our use of cutting-edge technology (download our Clinic Information Pack).

Here are a few of the many ways that we can make a difference in your life:

1. Concierge Healthcare Support

Our Customer Care & Clinical Care teams start working for you on day one. The Customer Care Team directly supports and simplifies your care experience by helping you organize and track your fatigue care-related appointments and paperwork, both within our clinic and across our fatigue care partner and affiliate network. Your care is further supported by our Clinical Care Team, who initiates and handles most of the administration and paperwork to support your referral to external healthcare providers for fatigue care-related purposes. These teams work together seamlessly to ensure your precious time and energy are protected, allowing you to stay focused on your recovery.

2. A Peer-Led and Person-First Approach

Too many people feel unheard and fall through our healthcare system’s cracks – particularly those living with more complex health concerns. Cancer Fatigue Services is committed to ensuring that your care is well supported by people who ‘get it’ and will advocate for you and your healthcare needs. Mr. Peter Laneas (CFS Marketing & Outreach Communications Manager) has been busy living after cancer for almost 20 years, following his passions as a wellness advocate and an experienced peer supporter! Peter is an integral part of our care team who works tirelessly on the front line and behind the scenes to ensure your needs are met, your progress is well monitored and supported, and your concerns are heard and addressed. 

3. Accessible Care

We are aware that just the thought of leaving the house can be a source of stress for people living with cancer-related fatigue. That is why we built our care model with flexibility and convenience in mind. Our clinic is conveniently connected to the Sheppard-Yonge subway station (located on Lines 1 and 4) and is just 3 minutes (<1 km) away from highway 401.  Parking is offered complimentary for all OHIP-covered visits. After your Comprehensive Fatigue Assessment, the rest of your care can be delivered virtually. Our virtual care options ensure that daily changes in your energy levels or geographic location are not barriers to accessing the care you need.

Download our Transportation Options & Tips info pack to learn more.

4. Affordable Care

Financial constraints should not hinder anyone’s ability to live well with and after cancer. Cancer Fatigue Services is committed to ensuring that every individual has access to the fatigue care they require, regardless of their financial circumstances. We are working hard to eliminate the financial barriers preventing people from accessing high-quality fatigue care in three ways. 

  1. Our assessment, treatment planning, and counselling services are covered by OHIP for eligible people. 
  2. Our enhanced assessment and intervention services are eligible for private insurance coverage through most benefits plans. 
  3. Finally, we help people with limited financial means find low- and no-cost fatigue treatment options through our Compassionate Coverage for Care Program.

5. Cancer-Fatigue Focused

While many different forms of fatigue exist, we only treat cancer-related fatigue. This specialization ensures our physicians and therapists stay current with cutting-edge research and novel support approaches for people living with cancer-related fatigue, allowing them to translate the best available evidence into practice to increase the effectiveness and reduce the time it takes to see results.

6. Comprehensive & Innovative Fatigue Assessments

We get answers fast by assessing all the treatable and non-treatable causes of cancer-related fatigue. This appointment lasts between 50 and 75 minutes (depending on the complexity of your case) and evaluates all medical, physical, mental, emotional, demographic, and social factors that may contribute to your fatigue. Results are typically ready within 48 to 72 hours of completing your comprehensive fatigue consultation.

Our fatigue assessments are based on the leading national and international guidelines for cancer fatigue management. However, achieving the best results possible requires doing more than the minimum. That is why we offer enhanced fatigue assessment services that evaluate critically important aspects of your physical health that are likely causes of fatigue for many people, but that have not been included in the guidelines…at least yet! 

We are the only fatigue clinic in North America to offer Cardiopulmonary Exercise Tests, advanced bioelectrical impedance analysis, and strength testing. Cardiopulmonary Exercise Tests are the gold standard for assessing the function of your cardiovascular system and how its primary components (e.g. your lungs, heart, peripheral skeletal muscles) work together to deliver oxygen to support energy production. The combination of bioelectrical impedance analysis and strength testing provides important information about the health and function of your skeletal muscles – which is where most energy production in the body takes place. Together, these tests provide critical insight into the health and function of the primary systems responsible for energy production in the body – making them essential elements of our comprehensive fatigue assessment. 

Download our Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Brochure or Information Pack to learn more.

7. Personalized Exercise Therapy

Over 30 years of research has found that exercise training is the most effective single treatment strategy for cancer-related fatigue. However, a special approach to exercise training is needed to treat complex health issues like cancer-related fatigue.

Everyone knows that regular exercise is generally ‘good for you’. However, a generic approach to exercise training is less effective at addressing fatigue because it is not specific to that individual. An effective exercise prescription for cancer-related fatigue considers the specific injuries and dysfunction within specific organs and body systems contributing to each individual’s fatigue. Like all medical treatments, it is essential that you receive the correct type and dose of exercise to ensure it is safe and effective. Exercise Therapy refers to a special medicalized approach to regular exercise training that is: 

  • precisely prescribed and tailored to your physiology and functional capacity using the results of gold-standard assessments like Cardiopulmonary Exercise Tests;
  • targeted to cause specific physiological adaptations within the body to address the unique causes of your fatigue (e.g. improving the efficiency of oxygen delivery to your skeletal muscles; increasing skeletal muscle mass [the number and size of skeletal muscle cells]; increasing the number, size and function of the mitochondria and related enzyme activity within skeletal muscles to boost energy production capacity within the body;  improving glucose control; reducing stress chemicals in the blood; boosting immune system function); and,
  • medically supervised to optimize your safety and benefits.

Our exercise therapists have the experience necessary to get you results quickly and safely by delivering exactly: 

  • what you need – the right type and dose of exercise; 
  • when you need it – the right sequence and schedule of exercise;  
  • where you need it – at our clinic, a community gym, or your own home (including helping you find affordable home exercise equipment); and,
  • how you need it – from weekly supervised care to self-monitored exercise prescription services.

Download our Exercise Therapy Information Sheet to learn more.

8. Ongoing Physician, Therapist and Care Team Support and Monitoring

We are not your typical specialist clinic. We will not leave you wondering, “What is next?” or “Now what?”! We are your fatigue recovery partners. We are in this with you and will continue supporting you as long as you need us. Our team is actively involved in every step of your fatigue care, from your initial screening appointment to your final fatigue-related treatment and through to at least 12 months after your final appointment/treatment. Your fatigue may be unpredictable, but you can count on our team.

Contact us today to discover how Cancer Fatigue Services can help you.

The Cancer Fatigue Services Team