Powering Through Fatigue After Cancer

“It’s not due to a lack of rest — additional rest does not alleviate this fatigue. When people have pervasive fatigue, it could be mental fatigue or physical," Luke Peppone, of the University of Rochester in New York, said about cancer-related fatigue.

This September, MJH Life Sciences, the parent company of CURE and Heal, celebrates our 25th anniversary. The innovation in health care over the past 25 years has been nothing short of miraculous! Together, we have witnessed significant advances that have provided new cancer treatments. Throughout these changes and into the future, MJH Life Sciences is committed to providing high-quality information and education.

Cancer-related fatigue is a common side effect most survivors experience after receiving treatment. This kind of fatigue is felt physically, mentally and emotionally, which can significantly affect one’s quality of life. It creates a challenge for all aspects of everyday life, including work, relationships with loved ones and even the completion of daily tasks, such as laundry. Focusing energy on cancer-related fatigue is crucial, and this fall issue of Heal dives into how survivors can help manage that side effect.

“Cancer-related fatigue is a fatigue that is pervasive throughout the body,” says Luke Peppone, of the University of Rochester in New York. “It’s not due to a lack of rest — additional rest does not alleviate this fatigue. When people have pervasive fatigue, it could be mental fatigue or physical.”

We hear two survivors’ stories about how they’ve learned to manage their cancer-related fatigue by taking breaks and making the most of energy spurts. Elsewhere in this feature, we speak with a director of cancer rehabilitation who emphasizes the importance of exercising, especially when the fatigue is intense, and the steps to take to start noticing an improvement.

Also in this issue, the side effect of hearing loss from chemotherapy is explored. We speak with a distinguished professor from the University of South Florida about what survivors can do to maintain their hearing and what to avoid.

In our survivor spotlight, Annie Bond, a comedian and metastatic breast cancer survivor, discusses her nine-year experience with the disease and how she cultivates a community on social media. Sharing short-form videos on Instagram and TikTok has given her a chance to share the good, the bad and the ugly, which can be “the most healing part.”

Lastly, we have three new fall recipes to spice up your cookbook. These dishes are packed with essential vitamins and minerals, providing you with the sustenance your body needs. If you’d like to cozy up on a rainy day, I encourage trying the turmeric ginger latte.

As always, we hope you find our stories inspirational and informative. Thank you for reading.

MIKE HENNESSY JR.

PRESIDENT & CEO

MJH LIFE SCIENCES®

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