An app helps a chronically tired former cancer patient: "I now recognize schemas"

There remain two small lines of the tumor that, at the age of 11, had been largely removed from Rebecca's brain. What these traits are is not clear. "They do not know if they are part of the tumor or scar tissue from surgery or radiotherapy, but the last seven years have been stable, we now assume that it's about scars, "says Rebecca.

Impermeable locomotion and memory

Rebecca's tumor was near the cerebellum and brainstem. This affected Rebecca's locomotion, but also her memory and ability to concentrate.

"Due to the tumor, I was temporarily paralyzed on the right side, which is now over, but I still have a tremor in my right hand.Right a cup of coffee, she is mainly on the floor. "

Tired and over excited

Rebecca suffers mainly from chronic fatigue. "When I was in fourth grade of my study, I was about 22 years old, I was very tired." "What's going on?", I thought, that was Cost a lot of effort. more difficult, I was very stimulated and very tired. "

This was the result of irradiation from previous years, which had also destroyed many healthy cells.The effects of this phenomenon can only occur years later.

Static complaints

This is a common problem for people with cancer, says clinical psychologist Bram Kuiper at RTL Nieuws, and between 20% and 40% suffer from fatigue. has been director of the Helen Dowling Institute for many years and provides psychological assistance to people with cancer

"Many patients or former patients suffer from fatigue, only 20% of these symptoms of fatigue can be explained physically and therefore treated with drugs. "

Low threshold help

For the vast majority, psychological help helps to reduce symptoms, and Kuiper was looking for easier, more accessible ways to handle it." In 2009, we launched an online program in which people received their homework and exercises and received comments from a therapist. Research has shown that it works very well and that fatigue symptoms of patients and former patients are reduced. "

Finally, after years of development with this method, an application designed to help people reduce fatigue : Untire.me.The application in Dutch language is presented today.The English language has been in the air since March.

Finding Balance

Rebecca was one of the subjects that used the application.It is very enthusiastic about it. "I have been using the app in recent months and, for example, in September, when I had a serious dive energy, I used it a lot. It contains short exercises that help you come to yourself, for example, you look at things that give you energy. and things that cost you energy, because I know it, I can find a good balance. "

You can also indicate in the app how it goes with your energy level." This allows me to see how I felt each week in recent months. "

This n & # Is not a panacea.

Rebecca knows that the app is not a panacea. "I can not solve the fatigue, but I have better understood what gives me a lot of d & # 39; Energy and what costs me energy. "If something costs me a lot of energy, I will not do it anymore, if you have to look at it yourself, You are walking against a wall, which also fits your own motives, which you no longer recognize yourself.The application gives me a good overview.It was mainly a revelation. "

Search on the operation of the application

Cancer fatigue related to physical and mental exhaustion. The Untire application tries to give help to reduce cancer fatigue. The University of Groningen conducts research on the benefits of the application.