There are moments in advocacy when everything aligns – the cause, the community, and the care behind it. The recent Look Good Feel Better: Cancer Fatigue workshop was one of those moments.

I had the privilege of participating in this session alongside a record-setting number of registered and attending participants. From the very beginning, the energy was unmistakable. The chat was active, the questions were thoughtful and structured, and the engagement was constant. Hearts, thumbs-up, and bursts of laughter emojis filled the screen. Even more so when I found the right moments to lean into bits of well-timed humour.

That’s the thing about fatigue conversations: they don’t have to feel heavy to be meaningful.

Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most common side effects of cancer and its treatments. It’s persistent, it’s disruptive, and it often lingers long after treatment ends. What made this workshop special was how openly people “showed up” – not just to learn, but to be seen. Honest experiences and questions were shared and leaned into the reassurance that fatigue is common, but not something that has to be accepted as “normal”.

Moderated by the wonderful Sue Larkin, the session flowed with a care and intention. Her guidance created a space where education felt approachable, where questions were ready in advance and no feelings of being rushed. Medical questions that required deeper insight were expertly addressed by our founder Dr. Scott Adams. His expertise ensured participants received clear, evidence-based responses alongside lived-experience insight from yours truly.

Together, we explored what cancer-related fatigue is, why it happens, and most importantly … what can be done about it.

What stood out to me the most was the sense of community. This wasn’t a one-way presentation. It was a shared experience rooted in hope, curiosity, and mutual understanding. People stayed engaged, supported one another in the chat with real-time reactions, and how managing fatigue isn’t about pushing harder – it’s about being supported better.

This is what happens when a cause meets a community through a charity that understands both. Education becomes empowering. Connection becomes healing and advocacy becomes something lived, not just discussed.

If you’d like to learn more about this workshop, I encourage you to visit Look Good Feel Better’s Cancer Fatigue page here: https://lgfb.ca/workshops-top-page/cancer-fatigue/

Workshops like this remind me why collaboration matters. When organizations like Look Good Feel Better create space for honest conversations, and when survivors are invited to bring their lived experience into those spaces, something powerful happens. People leave feeling informed, encouraged, and a little less alone.

That, to me, is what connection looks like when it’s done right.

—- Written by: Peter Laneas
Advocacy & Engagement Lead
Cancer Fatigue Services