Cancer Related Fatigue

Thanks to the Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre and Canadian Cancer Society for their support. sunnybrook.ca/
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Dr. Mike Evans is founder of the Health Design Lab at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of Toronto, and a staff physician at St. Michael's Hospital.
Written and Narrated by Dr. Mike Evans
Executive Producer, Dr. Mike Evans
Illustrations by Liisa Sorsa
Produced, Directed, and Photographed by Nick De Pencier
Editor, David Schmidt
Story/Graphic Facilitator, Disa Kauk
Whiteboard Construction, James Vanderkleyn
Production Assistant, Chris Niesing
©2013 Michael Evans and Mercury Films Inc.

[@govegandotnet]

Please never take this video down. I've watched it 100 times as a reminder. I am 5 years out of my cancer treatment and some days I am overwhelmed with fatigue. This video is here to remind me that what I am experiencing is part of my journey. Thank you.

[@ryanghraizi5431]

You doing ok?

[@susiepingleton3614]

For two years, I have tried to keep going. I mowed the lawn and did gardening everyday! I go shopping and have painted rooms and decks. The fatigue truly knocks me down everyday at 1pm. I am Stage lll breast cancer. I am short of breath. Worries my family and friends. No one truly knows what this fatigue feels like except those who experience it. I just try to pace myself daily.

[@Doctorgan]

This gave m so much positivity! No stress pressure or big sell.

[@frodocatlover]

At least I don’t feel alone! I had chemo/ rads/surgeries. The problem it doesn’t address is people who just can’t pace or bank their energy. Eg - me. 3 little kids - they don’t run on my schedule, I run on theirs. We need money. Like money for food and mortgage. When I look at my daytimer I have an anxiety attack because there is nowhere in there to fit in a break. I went for help and was told that every 2 hours I need to take a small break. As an example I go from appointments to bus stop to after school snacks to activities to making supper, getting baby from daycare, to supper, to packing lunches, and the bedtime process. There is honestly no break. I think there needs to be a plan for moms. A couple of very long stressful and full days I had an energy drink (I know-they are poison) and I got everything done, that’s not a long term solution. I do exercise. I do go for walks. It’s not getting better. I am so fatigued. Then frantic 🤯, then I can’t focus and make mistakes all over the place (like messing up school pick up time, I look so foolish, kids late for school - not even their fault and they have to do the walk of shame from the office with their late slip), then I can’t even hold a conversation without forgetting what we were talking about. Then I check out - I’m a zombie. My house gets messy, my kids can’t find clean clothes in the laundry baskets lined up but not put away (this morning no one could find underpants 😳). I just need magic.

[@gabrielortiz2849]

WOW! People took this video so well, judging by the nice comments. Initially I was like: "Great....one more thing I'm responsible for!!"..... LOL! But from there, I went to feeling empowered to know that I dont have to take the fatigue, and that I can " fight" it with the very thing is trying to keep me from doing, which is...Activity! Thanks Doc!

[@joshua2222ful]

Gabriel Ortiz n

[@gagsdoublej4254]

Excuse me Sir/Madam Are you saved? If you died tonight are you going to heaven? Jesus loves you. For god so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

[@SkoppShadowsWalking]

Thank you for this outstanding, helpful video. I'm a Stage IV kidney cancer patient, with mets to my lungs and brain, now in my 55th month since dx. My brain treatments (craniotomy and stereotactic radiosurgery) have been successful. I'm attempting to turn my cancer into a chronic, but treatable disease: fatigue is my challenge. I am going to the gym today, starting slowly, of course, but hopeful for improvement in my energy levels.

[@ScottSimpson]

Great post, Doc. My wife, two years after an initial find of ovarian cancer, is still tired and achy. Glad to have her around still, and am grateful folks like you are working on stuff like this to make her life better.

[@DocMikeEvans]

Scott Simpson Notes like that make it all the more rewarding... thanks scott

[@bluefluke7585]

I haven't started any treatments yet, but even before I was diagnosed with oral cancer, I was experiencing these same symptoms. Because of these, I knew something was seriously wrong. I would like to hear about the experiences of cancer patients prior to beginning treatment. I imagine treatments themselves would cause many of these symptoms. Good video.

[@loveworld8423]

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[@loveworld8423]

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[@boraborabob1]

Your right on!!!!! Problem is exercise is difficult when you just ran a Marathon and can barely make it from toilet to bed.

[@soniablancomejia]

Thank you Dr. Evans, It is so important to send out messages to the general public and remind them of the little things that can make a great impact on health, I am a big follower of your great videos and I hope that people do follow your advice and share your videos with as many people as possible. One more time: "Congratulations for your great work" Sonia

[@ecramer4479]

Thanks for this video. I'm 3 months into year-long clinical trial for advanced melanoma and at 38, I have been feeling a bit robbed of life lately. Fatigue has definitely set in and I am having a harder and harder time motivating myself to get out bed, get some exercise, and make healthy food choices. At the beginning of the trial, a colleague who went through intensive treatment himself said "Push yourself every day to get up and get moving, even when you don't feel like it." Until a couple weeks ago, I felt he had gone through something worse than me because I felt fine for the most part. And then fatigue hit. And now I WISH I had developed those healthy habits from the beginning: perhaps now those habits would be seeing me through when I otherwise want to lie in bed all day. SO, my piece of advice for anyone/everyone looking at an initial diagnosis: work on developing healthy habits IMMEDIATELY. It WILL get harder so do as much as you can in the beginning.

[@azguitar]

This video started off well, and then descended into the common rhetoric I've heard from several cancer doctors. Listen, if you've never felt "cancer fatigue," yourself, you honestly can have NO idea what it's really like. Imagine having mononucleosis for TWO YEARS straight! Yeah, it's not in my head, and it's not down to attitudes or behaviors. I'm a published novelist and a pro musician. I practice both crafts every single day, and I love life, and I'm fairly disciplined. But, cancer fatigue doesn't care about your behaviors and attitudes, and it's not some jovial sketched character standing by a tree. It is a debilitating sense of having no energy, and worried that you won't be able to complete tasks that you start. So, DocMikeEvans, I appreciate the effort, but in the end you've just put another spin on what cancer fatigue really is, and in my eyes, you're another doctor telling me to buck up and improve my attitude.

[@DamageZ1979]

I think the point here is to change your way of thinking. I've been battling cancer fatigue for almost 2 years. As an active father of 3 who coaches basketball, this has been difficult to deal with. What has helped me is setting reasonable expectations of myself and understanding I'm not the same as I was before all of this. When I read your comment I feel that your way to critical of someone who is offering a new way of thinking about it. Maybe changing your perspective can help the way it helped me. It hasn't fixed me, however, its certainly helped me deal with it.

[@matovicmmilan]

I have to stand on your side 100%! When someone has a debilitating illness and presents his problems to a doctor, I don't want to hear about "all in his head" or "yoga, exercise, nutrition" as all of this is accusatory and disrespectful! Why doesn't a doctor admit that he or the medicine can't help, if that's the case!?

[@susiepingleton3614]

Milan, I am an RN. Two + years with the fatigue. I can agree that no one knows like we do. That being said, increasing physical activities does help me. Even if it is just stretching and walking etc. always resting for about an hour and 30 minutes gives a boost. I just cannot imagine having this when I was raising three kids? My heart goes out to the younger ones! I am retired too. I have seen nurses work full time during treatments? I am so blessed to be able to rest anytime!! I will pray for you and hope soon you will improve!!

[@redsetters181]

Sooo true.....I have stage 4 breast cancer and feel exhausted all the time.......I can sleep 10 hours and wake up still feeling tired. But every day I take my dog to the park for 1 1/2 - 2/1/2 hours and once I'm there walking I actually feel like I have more energy and feel less tired.

[@SueBea]

My fatigue was far worse during the 3 or so years following the treatment, not during! And it was combined with depression. I thought it would never go. But it did.

[@CookForYourLife]

This is so wonderful! Patients that come to our cooking classes are always asking about how to deal with fatigue. This is such a wonderful, understandable way of accepting and dealing with severe fatigue.

[@annieoliver5146]

This makes a lot of sense to me; I am cancer patient/fighter, and fatigue is my number one complaint. Walking has been my exercise of choice, and it has helped me quite a bit. Hearing a doctor talk about this problem has made me feel better, not crazy! Thank you!

[@bridgettheswaggmaster7958]

This video is so helpful, even to people with out cancer. great video

[@corina.corina]

Thank you for this vid. I was just diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer with Mets to my liver and lymph nodes. Extreme fatigue and feeling cold was one of my first symptoms along with pain and changes in bowel habits.

[@reginaburks9204]

How are you now? I was just diagnosed in April

[@DocMikeEvans]

thanks sonia. i really appreciate it. mike

[@MrAshleyR]

Many thanks Dr. Mike. In my mind, walking not only helps with exercise, but gives me the time I need to frame my worries accurately.

[@1gogrango]

very well said and muchly needed

[@amy8460]

Great info in this video, love the simple ideas of easier care of myself. I have a good attitude but tiredness can come out of nowhere sometimes. For me its usually from doing too much, poor food choices or stress and I have to rest. I like the journal idea too. Thanks.

[@ananya.a04]

Brilliant video. Keep up the good work!

[@JoannePidgeon]

I found when I went through chemotherapy that walking, horseback riding, and camping were the best fatigue relievers. Thanks for putting together a great video about cancer fatigue.

[@tinomts]

Thank you very much for this Doc. I needed this.

[@NaturesFairy]

Wonderful video! Thank you!!

[@JessicaGutowskiSlaydon]

This is good advice for everyone! Love you videos Dr. Mike.

[@donnagrantham6771]

I FINISHED MY CHEMO 6 YEARS AGO AND MY ENERGY DIDN'T GET ENERGY BACK. I JUST FOUND OUT I HAVE CANCER AGAIN SO I HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT AGAIN AND RADIATION. I AM 67 AND DON'T THINK I HAVE THE STRENGTH TO DO IT AGAIN I CAN'T GET UP OUT OF BED

[@unawild7186]

That’s awful hun how are you getting on? X

[@DocMikeEvans]

ouurrrr pleeeeaaaassssuuuurrre!! thanks for watching. Such an important topic and often overlooked...

[@alessandrodimich4914]

Great Video

[@DocMikeEvans]

Love it. thats it. keep moving. mike

[@pxlArcade]

Great video

[@petitpois8813]

cancer meds made me obese, gave me adrenal, fatigue & high cortisol. This in turn, caused my cancer to spread. To be honest. I'm OK with weight dropping now. Even though my cancer is advanced.

[@asadullah9363]

its really awesome video i really love it....

[@DocMikeEvans]

That's a lot to deal with... 55 months out.. Fantastic. I like your re-framing of cancer. Good luck at the gym. If you have a smartphone look up the human app for tracking...

[@wsmama]

Thanks Dr.Mike. I needed to hear that. As soon as I kick this URI that leaves me SOB with only a little incline. I'll get walking, in the mean time a few yoga poses may help.

[@bintlooda]

Woooooow this is a realy great video thaaaaaaannnnkkkkk uuuuuuuuuuuu

[@theconsciousmovement9669]

Ohhhhhhh. Makes so much sence

[@CarmenGarcia-bu3so]

I. Looking on your drawing excellent 👌

[@CarmenGarcia-bu3so]

Nice infocand sad. My husband started with lymphoma NOW HE GOT SARCOMA IN HIS LUNGS, NOT DOING GOOD

[@SanelKeys]

When I had thyroid cancer I could only lye down and sleep. Now after 3 years of thyroidectomy, I feel just the same. Non stop fatigue. I just don't know what could it be except cancer, this time esophagus or lungs. I'm heavy smoker.

[@GuitarHeroPhenomSux]

I actually have more stress when exercising because I never see results, become more exhausted and end up getting impatient where I'll eventually quit.

[@petitpois8813]

Adrenal fatigue. You got to do this through diet.

[@malsadoon1988]

Thanks for this great video. I am planning to start a cancer support group, So what's the difference between a support group and a "fatigue specific treatment", I would appreciate it if you can provide me with research studies fatigue traetment so I can refer to them when I need'em. And please send me the link of the German study that you have mentioned in your video. Thank you awesome Dr. :D

[@tiffytoo]

I just want to be a good mom and wife. I didnt have chemo but i had cancer and im post op 2 yrs and im sooooooollo tired everyday

[@arthur1543]

I am 15 months post cancer, I've tried walking (did that before cancer) I am literally wiped out after just 3-5minutes. The only thing that helps me is a natural energy drink. Nothing with caffeine just B vitamins. I have spoken with all of my doctors and, not much is done to help. I had squamous cell carcinoma of the parotid gland. The radiation was terrible, the side effects are still materializing and are very frustrating. I used to be very active now......... Not so much.

[@govegandotnet]

Keep walking Arthur. I am 5 years out from my diagnosis and I can tell you I understand. I know it seems counter-intuitive to exercise when you're tired but keep walking!!!

[@crybaby_2053]

Great vid! Could you plz tell me the conclusion that CRF has become one of the most common side effect over depression/anxirty and other cancer related symptoms. If thats from studies, can you plz tell me the DOI code of the study? That u soooooo much

[@UhoudAaMm]

PlEASE, could u talk about MS in general & and its fatigue in specific?

[@williamlott7612]

Do you lump immunotherapy under the broader chemo therapy umbrella? I was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in May 2021. My melanoma was under the skin in a lymph node in my right arm pit, on my left breast bone, and a spot near my pancreas. My dermatologist was unable to determine an external entry point and I am still waiting to see an ophthalmologist to see if my eyes were the entry. I began treatment with five days of radiation and a week later, an infusion of opdivo and yervoy. I experienced occasional fatigue with temperature fluctuations every day or so until July 4, 2021 when the fatigue was accompanied by more pronounced temperature fluctuations. I jokingly declared I now knew what a woman felt like during menopause. I wet to bed @10:00 PM freezing and shivering but woke up @1AM soaking wet. I felt exhausted but sort of normal, almost as if I just broken a fever. From the next morning until Dec 14, 2021, I felt normal, even joking that I felt silly saying I was sick. One thing, on September 22, 2021 a follow-up pet scan/MRI showed no active cancer anywhere including the three areas mention. So, from July 5 to Dec 13 I feel normal, on Dec 14 the fatigue returns accompanied by aching almost everywhere. My oncologist doesn’t seem alarmed but I am concerned. Whattaya think? Darlington, South Carolina

[@Thepourdeuxchanson]

Fine if you're not wiped out with unavoidable duties that can't be shared or offloaded. What we need is - yes! - a pill to boost energy. The exercise for a COPD patient that was only minimally bearable is no longer possible. Let's have that pill!

[@cikomemes7023]

3 days ago i had a haedache after a long trip.. now its day 3 and im having this daytime tiredness/fatigue and my back neck area feeling sore/heavy.. havent go to docs but hopefully its not tumourous or something bad.. if anyone experienced the same or have any suggestion please let me know that would be greatly appreciated! Because if i die i'd be mad xd.. well i guess every human will die someday and somehow so ye.. btw past days i also been baving some other health anxiety and stress/depression it all hits on one point...

[@grannytam2900]

I brought it up many times and nothing was offered to help with any of the docs. The person doing this has not had cancer! Start with a half hour a day exercise when you use all your energy just trying to keep up with personal care!!!

[@ColbyMoonwalker]

Recommending exercise is a cop-out.

[@davidtracey9094]

nice

[@spookily1661]

I thought I had cancer fatige because I felt tired one time I have lots of energy

[@anitahendricks]

💛

[@DocMikeEvans]

Hi Malsadoon1988, Just found out comments don't allow links but here is the title: A patient education program is effective in reducing cancer-related fatigue: a multi-centre randomised two-group waiting-list controlled intervention trial.Reif K, de Vries U, Petermann F, Görres S. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2013 Apr;17(2):204-13 I will ask our fatigue expert if there is a place I can point you so you could model your own program. Thanks. Mike

[@chengfusaechao7243]

my FATIGUE rating 8/10..i am scared.. i am worried..i just might have CANCER😷😭

[@wizardgamer544]

We need arabic plz

[@justina9914]

I have been feeling weak for more than a month now and now I am really tired. I might have cancer

[@cikomemes7023]

3 days ago i had a haedache after a long trip.. now its day 3 and im having this daytime tiredness/fatigue and my back neck area feeling sore/heavy.. havent go to docs but hopefully its not tumourous or something bad.. if anyone experienced the same or have any suggestion please let me know that would be greatly appreciated! Because if i die i'd be mad xd.. well i guess every human will die someday and somehow so ye.. btw past days i also been baving some other health anxiety and stress/depression it all hits on one point...

[@divyamurali719]

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