Chemo-Brain?

     

    Last Semester I had conducted research speaking with women affected by cancer. During my research It was evident that chemotherapy both IV and oral treatments truly affects your memory. This morning while looking on Twitter I came across an article posted by American Cancer Society called Chemo Brain: It is Real.

     Here is a brief excerpt from the article… “Recently a colleague at work who had just returned from a getting a haircut mentioned to me that his hairdresser, who has lung cancer, was upset because her husband was very worried about her. The hairdresser explained that she had started having some memory problems - couldn't remember what she did yesterday or couldn't remember people's names. And she had started to tell her husband something and stopped in the middle of her story - not remembering what to say next. She too acknowledged being a little concerned and was seeing her doctor in 3 days, but she didn't know how to help her husband until then. I asked if she was receiving chemotherapy and was told yes, so I explained that she might have "chemo brain."

     Radiation has been known to have side effects to the brain; however, now it is being found that Chemotherapy has many side effects as well to the brain. Within the article, it is discussed how studies suggest that there can be more than one cause of chemo brain, especially for the short-term symptoms. It has been found that some individuals diagnosed with cancer have brain problems even though they have not had chemotherapy.

        Having the opportunity to speak with those women in the fall regarding their diagnosis and experience with chemotherapy it was evident that chemotherapy truly had taken a toll on their brain, and memory overall. One of the participants in my study was diagnosed when she was a teenager. After our interview it was shocking to see how having chemotherapy as a teenager ha truly affected her memory to this day; she is now in her late twenties.

If you have had chemotherapy have you experienced Chemo Brain? If you are experiencing this American Cancer Society has provided this list to help manage day to day tasks.

ACS "The following are steps that some patients have found helpful in managing their day-to-day living.

• Write things down. Keep track of appointments and schedules, to-do lists, important dates, phone numbers and addresses.
• Exercise your brain. Take a class, do word puzzles, or learn to do something new.
• Exercise your body. Regular physical activity is good for your body; it improves your mood, makes you feel more alert, and helps you feel less tired.
• Get enough rest and sleep.
• Eat your veggies. Studies have shown that eating more vegetables can help you keep up your brain power.
• Set up and follow routines. Put the things you often lose in the same place each time you're done with them. Try to keep the same daily schedule.
• Give yourself permission to focus on one thing at a time.
• Choose only those activities that are important to you and allow yourself plenty of time to complete tasks.
• Consider use of relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation.
• Track your memory problems. Keep a diary of when you notice problems and the events that are going on at the time. Medicines taken, time of day, and where you are may help you figure out what affects your memory. Don't plan important tasks or events when your memory problems are worse.
• Do not criticize yourself for not being able to remember. Accepting the problem will help you deal with it. Patients say that being able to laugh about things you can't control can help you cope. And remember, you probably notice your problems much more than others do."