The Joyful Freedom Approach to Cancer-Related Fatigue

The book introduces The Joyful Freedom Approach, as a strategy for recovery from fatigue. It was initially developed through a series of research studies inspired initially by women who had breast cancer and were troubled by ongoing cancer-related fatigue. The integrated, holistic approach has scope for supporting individuals who have experienced energy depletion not just due to cancer and its treatments, but also in relation to other illnesses, conditions or distressing life events. 

The approach is aimed at helping people to discover what they can do to energise their lives following an event such as cancer that has left them lacking vitality, wellness or a sense of direction and clarity about how to live life fully. Research has culminated in identifying five attributes of energy restorative activities; these are represented by the Energy Restoration Framework. The attributes of Purposeful Expanding, Connecting/Belonging, Awe-inspiring and Nourishing act as headings for discussion, planning and integration into an individual’s recovery and beyond. 

The book is organised into three parts and subdivided into chapters. Part One contains the chapters of: The Inspiration, The Challenge and the Resolution. These first chapters offer the reader a gateway to the Joyful Freedom Approach starting with a narrative that starts from nursing practice and discovering energy-fields, through to the foundations and detail surrounding evidence-based research on cancer-related fatigue and possible interventions. Part Two consists of chapters that serve to place the energy-creating framework in context: Philosophy and Theory; Evidence for Change and Research in Practice. Here, the influential Attention Restorative Theory of Professor Stephen Kaplan, an environmental psychologist, is introduced. The discussion then progresses onto the adaptation of Kaplan’s theory to the cancer care and illness context. Part Three provides an overview and representation of The Energy Restoration Framework leading to the emergence of the Joyful Freedom Approach. The book concludes with a discussion of how theory and practice can be brought together and applied using The Joyful Freedom Approach.

The book is aimed at health care practitioners who are engaged with counselling people through distressing life events. This would include nurses, medical doctors, social workers or occupational therapists who work with individuals who are recovering from illnesses or surgery, or mental health practitioners who help their clients to regain control and navigate through distressing life events. The book offers practitioners and therapists an evidenced-based template that is versatile and adaptable to meet the needs of a varied range of clients. 

“This is a fascinating book in which Professor Kirshbaum carefully led readers into the way she conceptualised and articulated her worldview, before it cumulate logically into Joyful Freedom Approach and guideline for programme intervention. I love the idea of a framework that is nonpharmacological and able to explain holistically on wellbeing through lens of energy restoration in relationship to Cancer-Related Fatigue. For practitioners working in the cancer space, this is certainly a joy and an inspiration to read.” (Mark Lin, HOD, Manager, Psychosocial Services, Singapore Cancer Society) 

“This book provides a positive, practical and joyful guide for health care professionals working with people who have a cancer diagnosis. As Professor Kirshbaum sets out in the introduction the book focuses on energy and personal well-being. She takes the reader on a journey through the sciences of energy and nursing theory, that can help nurses understand how more creative interventions such as yoga, mindfulness can provide a more holistic ‘tool kit’ for a person living with a cancer diagnosis. The chapter that struck me most was Theoretical Musings: Towards Energy Restoration – making the most out of life – feeling a purpose in life. As part of this, art and creative ways of working are identified as making an important contribution alongside other medical interventions. This book was a joy to read and it can share ways of positive working.” (Emeritus Professor Dr Josephine Tetley, Manchester Metropolitan University)
 
“It has been a great pleasure to read - The Joyful Freedom Approach to Cancer-Related Fatigue which introduces the Joyful Freedom Approach as a promising strategy that cancer survivors can utilise to help them recover from fatigue - one of the most common and distressing symptoms among cancer survivors. This book details this integrated and holistic approach to managing cancer-related fatigue, supported by theories, practice standards and relevant research evidence identified from high-quality and high-impact research publications and guidelines, as well as rigorously designed research studies. I am confident that this book will soon become a handbook for academics, researchers and clinicians working in the field of cancer supportive care to inform their own research and practice for managing cancer-related fatigue. In my capacity as the Associate Dean Research in the College of Nursing and Midwifery, I can recommend this book as a quality, researched-based output.” (Associate Prof Benjamin Tan, Associate Dean for Research and HDR Coordinator, College of Nursing and Midwifery - Brisbane Centre, Charles Darwin University, Australia)

Professor Marilynne N Kirshbaum is the Chair of Human Research Ethic Committee, previously Head of Nursing at Charles Darwin University in Darwin, Australia. She started her career as a nurse at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital, a major US cancer research centre in New York, and continued in England, first as a neonatal intensive care nurse,a research sister/manager within a Breast Care Unit and then senior academic. 

Her area of clinical and research expertise is in cancer and palliative care, specifically in exploring how people who suffer from debilitating fatigue can summon up sources of vitality and energy.  She has a continued interest in cancer related fatigue, chronic fatigue, physical exercise in cancer care, energy medicine/Integrative health & wellbeing, art and music for wellbeing and the development of theory.

Professor Kirshbaum is strongly committed to promoting excellence in nursing research and teaching, enabling, motivating and inspiring others to follow a path of integrity, compassion, truth, creativity and intelligence. She is also a qualified hypnotherapist, Reiki practitioner and CBT counsellor.