"Chemo brain" refers to the decreased cognitive function (ability to think, learn, and remember) experienced by many cancer patients (both men and women) who have undergone chemotherapy. People who have “chemo brain” may find themselves unable to concentrate on their work, to juggle multiple tasks, or to remember things as well as they used to in the past.
After years of being dismissed as a figment of patients’ imaginations or as a result of anxiety or depression, “chemo brain” is beginning to be taken seriously by cancer doctors and researchers.
Most breast cancer patients find their “chemo brain” goes away 6 months to a year after treatment ends, but other patients are not so lucky. Some patients continue to experience memory loss and difficulty managing multiple tasks several years after treatment. Researchers have yet to determine the exact cause of this condition, and why it is temporary in some cancer patients and permanent in others.
Women learning to live with “chemo brain” have found that the following approaches have helped them adjust:
• Getting adequate sleep every night
• Making lists; using a written daily organizer (or journal or electronic organizer); carrying a notebook to write spontaneous memos; and using a calendar will help assist memory
• Minimizing distractions when concentration is necessary
• Performing exercises to strengthen short-term memory
• Cutting back on tasks at work when necessary
• Using relaxation methods to reduce stress
• Performing regular low-impact exercise appropriate for you
Consult your oncologist and oncology nurse for guidance on managing chemo brain, improving your memory, and helping you concentrate.
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