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