Cancer Fatigue Awareness Campaign Launched

The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) has begun a public education campaign, entitled “Wake Up to Cancer Fatigue,” which will feature the first Cancer Fatigue Awareness Day on April 2, 1998. The purpose of the campaign is to educate health care professionals about cancer treatment-related fatigue, so that they can educate their colleagues, patients, and the public about this, the most common symptom reported by people undergoing anticancer therapy.

The goals of the “Wake Up to Cancer Fatigue” campaign include heightening awareness that cancer treatment- related fatigue is a real problem and that appropriate interventions may assist patients experiencing this symptom.

The campaign is the public education component of the multifaceted Fatigue Initiative through Research and Education (FIRE) Project, which was developed to enlighten health care providers, patients, and consumers about the scope of the fatigue problem and to provide patient and public education about fatigue and research in this area.

“As oncology nurses, we are in a unique position to help educate our patients and the public about the significance of cancer treatment-related fatigue. By launching this exciting campaign, we are giving oncology nurses the opportunity to help minimize this under-reported and under-treated symptom of cancer treatment,” said Kathryn Conrad, MsN, RN, AOCN, FIRE Public Education Project Team Leader.

Guide to Assist Cancer Care Professionals

A planning and promotional guide has been developed to assist the cancer care professional in communicating about cancer treatment-related fatigue. The packet includes information about planning, promoting, and conducting Cancer Fatigue Awareness Day activities in health care facilities, communities or statewide. It contains suggestions for professional and public education activities and a list of references and other resources for more information about cancer treatment- related fatigue, as well as ready-to-use educational hand-outs and artwork that can be reproduced to promote Cancer Fatigue Awareness Day.

The campaign is sponsored by ONS through an educational grant from the Oncology Nursing Foundation and Ortho Biotech, Inc.

To receive a complimentary copy of the planning and promotional guide, contact an ONS customer service representative at 501 Holiday Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15220, or call (412) 921-7373.