Why am I Still Tired ? A Group for Cancer-related Fatigue

Cancer related fatigue (CRF) has been defined as a \"distressing, persistent, subjective sense of tiredness or exhaustion related to cancer or cancer treatment that is not proportional to recent activity and interferes with usual functioning\". CRF has been found to affect between 59-99% of patients undergoing active treatment. Approximately a third of cancer survivors will continue to experience moderate to severe fatigue upwards of 10 years post-diagnosis. Given the prominence of CRF, guidelines for the assessment and management of CRF have been developed, including guidelines by the Canadian Association for Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO). Despite the availability of guidelines for CRF and a plethora of interventions that have demonstrated effectiveness in aiding patients manage CRF, implementation has been lacking. The objective of this study is to adapt, implement, and evaluate an already existing intervention for CRF in the community using the Knowledge-to-Action framework. This study is an implementation study and evaluation of an evidence-based cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention for CRF in a community setting. An evident knowledge to practice gap exists for CRF management in Ottawa, Canada. Through partnership with a community organization, the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation, and an emphasis on long-term sustainability, this project aims to provide more accessible treatment for cancer survivors who are experiencing CRF in the Ottawa region.