Chemotherapy and brain damage?

cherdaetwyler said:

Thanks Ellen,
I figure I'll be reading something new on my deathbed and let St. Peter know
about it at the gate. ( ) I have been a life long learner and I don't intend to let a
little thing like a doctors discouragement on the topic stop me now.

This evening I am going to a watershed meeting wtih a presentation on
mussels ( you know those little clam things that the Native Americans
used to make wampum) because one of my projects this spring is to
co-ordinate mussel counts in the streams near here to see what we need
to do to help make our water healthier for the little things that live there.

Also yesterday's doctors (radiologists) love the research and said the more
knowledge the better. It keeps you calmer and less stressed.

Hey all of you don't worry when I am writing in middle of night. My hubby
had to leave for work at 3:15 to start at 5:15 so I get up and make sure
he gets off with some food and lots of caffeine for the 2 hour drive.

Only a couple more years til he can retire and work at home with me.
I'll love it, although today I am glad he won't be here working on his
horn crafting...it really stinks when you heat the horn to shape it.
Not a good plan for second day after chemo.

love ya, prayers for you and your ministry, cher

Cher:

I know you've told me, but what chemo are you on, and how many cycles to go?

I mentioned this by email, but my first is next week -- and I did go with AC.

Soon to be bald!
Blessings!
Lisa

sueholm said:

Was finally reading this string, and saw all the discussion about research and depression. I too, researched like crazy, and do not regret it. Felt I had to know the precisie dimensions of the monster so that I could line up my sights. but I have found oncos very plreased that I am aware, so that is nice. Since they respect where I am at, I have much more respect for them. As for the depression I came across one study that showed that women with a history of depression have a much higher incidence of breast cancer. so I thought you might be interested in that fact. A sense of joy, was found, in another study to correlate with survivability. And being emotional during treatment boded well for fewer doc visits and better emotional outcome after treatment. therefore, I am going to do very well!!. love susan

Sue:

Good information! Thanks!

Does anybody else find the format of this forum terribly confusing? Your new note was nested in with much older notes.

Blessings!
Lisa

pamtriggs said:

Hi Cher. Pam here. You probably know about St.Johns Wort for use as an anti-depressant but did you know about a natural product called 5HTP (Nature's Way produce it in US I know) that works on your Seratonin levels. Maybe this will be of help if you cannot take normal anti-depressant medication. Best of luck with your cheom. Praying for you. Love & hugs. Pam

Hi again, Pam,
Yeah I know about 5HTP, I used it for a while. This week I just skipped taking
my regular ssri for 2 days of the time I was on the Zofran (that only lowers
the blod level of that particular ssri by 75%) then yesterday I started back on it.
I feel great other than having to fight to get my water., and the other problems
tjat mining has caused our housees. It is depressing to see a gorgeous
swirled plaster cieling cracking into bits. the man who did it cried when
I told him what was happening to it. He had put it in for his mother about
10 years ago and she is dead now. We bought her place and love it here
but the mining is devastating not only to the land and buildings but to the spirit
of people who watch their lifetime work fall apart.

Pam, my colostrum says take on an empty stomach. Do you know if that
is really necessary since it is dificult to find twice a day that I have an
empty stomach.

thanks for all, cher

cherdaetwyler said:

Hi again, Pam,
Yeah I know about 5HTP, I used it for a while. This week I just skipped taking
my regular ssri for 2 days of the time I was on the Zofran (that only lowers
the blod level of that particular ssri by 75%) then yesterday I started back on it.
I feel great other than having to fight to get my water., and the other problems
tjat mining has caused our housees. It is depressing to see a gorgeous
swirled plaster cieling cracking into bits. the man who did it cried when
I told him what was happening to it. He had put it in for his mother about
10 years ago and she is dead now. We bought her place and love it here
but the mining is devastating not only to the land and buildings but to the spirit
of people who watch their lifetime work fall apart.

Pam, my colostrum says take on an empty stomach. Do you know if that
is really necessary since it is dificult to find twice a day that I have an
empty stomach.

thanks for all, cher

Dear CHer
I take my colostrum as soon as I get up before I have my first belt of caffeine. I don't eat breakfast for about another hour (I have to get up early as hubby does as he starts early in morning - he's an engineer - and its a good chance to chat B4 he leaves.) Then I take the second dose in the middle of the night as I always wake up at least 4 times a night as I get so uncomfortable with the spine mets. That seems to work for me. I asked my naturopath & she said at least an hour before a meal is a good compromise. Best of luck with the fights with the water company. & your chemo. Love & hugs. Pam

chemobrain said:

I have also experienced memory loss and some fogginess. We all used to joke, as we were receiving our chemotherapy, about the chemobrain we were all experiencing. I have done some research and they are just starting to investigate this not uncommon side effect. Here is some initial information.While cognitive deficits have been found to occur in some cancer patients as the result of adjuvant (CMF) chemotherapy, this issue is not addressed with patients as a potential side effect of this course of treatment. Recent research has identified that a number of patients who have undergone adjuvant chemotherapy for operative primary breast carcinoma have reported impaired cognitive function, sometimes even years after completion of therapy. These findings have led to the investigation of the possible role of cytostatic treatment as a causative factor.

Preliminary results of investigations into the role of adjuvant CMF chemotherapy have demonstrated the patients treated with such therapy have a significantly higher risk of late cognitive impairment than breast carcinoma patients not treated with chemotherapy. The objective of adjuvant chemotherapy is to cure. However, with the potential for significant cognitive deficits, recent findings indicate the importance of evaluating impaired cognition as a side effect of chemotherapy.
Let me know if you want more info. The main researcher of this issues is Frits van Dam at the dept of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam.
I feel very strongly that this issue needs to be discussed with cancer patients, as some of us were concerned we had brain tumors, were getting alzheimers.... hope this helps. I can refer you or your MD to articles discussing this issue

Chemobrain
I totally agree with you! This needs to be researched and communicated to the patient!

I am on tamoxifen. I have problems finding words, am easily distracted, and basically similar to someone with ADD. I though it was my own inefficiency until I read an article describing new information on tamoxifen that damages the "executive functions" of the brain. If I had known this, I still would have taken the medication, as it is still better than cancer, but I would not have beaten myself up for "stupidity" had I known. I had been developing a future as a writer, but now words just blank out even in conversation.

They are just acknowledging that tamoxifen also causes chemobrain, so I suspect they will discover more as things go on.

Lighthouse_7 said:

Chemo Brain is real. I just
Chemo Brain is real. I just read about it on the Cancer site. They send me updated info via email. They actually said that they have no real explanation for why it happens but they know that it does.
But and the big But is, it i temporary (thank goodness) because I was never told about this and one day at my chemo session I got very upset because I couldn't remember any of the nurses names. One very nice nurse leaned over and said to me, "Don't worry about it honey, it's just chemo brain." Boy did I feel better! At least we have an excuse...LOL

I joke with my grown kids and tell them that I'll be using this excuse for a long time.

Oh yes, it's real
Chemo brain is very real. I was just saying to my husband ... what? Um ...I foget ...


(No disrepect meant. I really am struggling with this but trying to stay light-hearted.)

Hi Chad,
Welcome to the
Hi Chad,
Welcome to the site. It is a good place, and hop you will visit often.

Chemo Brain is VERY real. Of course, my onc never mentioned it when describing what I might be going through. I've found there is more information left out, than there is given. It is a road full of surprises.

I though I wasd dealing with my intensive AC therapy quite well. I rested when I felt the need, and did what I felt I could. I felt kind of fuzzy, but put it off to fatigue. Then one day I had to write a check. I found myself looking at my check book not knowing what to do. Sure fatigue, right? Then I found myself at my computer looking at icons, and wondering what they were for. Then I found I couldn't put a sentence together. I was trying to advance myself with a BS in information technology when I was dx. I tried to keep up with my work, but found it was taking me 8 hrs to post a two paragraph comment. I finally had to admit to myself that I was suffering from a serious congnitave impairment.

I was in tears. I thought my mind was actually leaving me, and I would be doomed to live the rest of my life as a locked up impairment to society drooling all over myself. I called my clinic in a panic. If I were to loose my mind, I would just as soon loose my life. When my onc's nurse finally called me back (of course, you have to leave a message, and then sit by the phone like a dog laying by it's dish) she was astounded I hadn't heard of chemo-brain. Well, I wonder how she expected me to hear about it when the doc isn't telling.

For some reason, I can't recall why, I had an appointment with my family doc a few days after. I was still in tears. symptoms were worsening. I would look at simple things I dealt with daily. I was forgetting how to turn a light swith on. I didn't know how to make coffee. My family doc was also astounded I hadn't heard of chemo-brain. She prescribed a daily dose of multi-B vitamins, along with a strong prescribed dose of folic acid.

That all occured about eight months ago. (not really sure about the time thing. I am finding my short term memory may be improving, but time escapes me for some unknown reason.)

I have since given up on obtaining a BS is anything, unless BS is a acronym for B*** S***. My memory has lapsed into a joke. Mostly of my origin, but no one seems to believe that I am not what I used to be. My son will alert me when I am repeating myself. That is my only barometer. Most people just put up with it. They just figure that Sharon is a bit loopy today, so just humor her. It would be so much better if they would just tell me. I guess they are trying to be kind.

So, Chad, don't ever believe there is a blood/brain barrier. I have researched chemp brain alot. All I can remember io that there is supposed to be a barrier between the brain, and what it will allow to come in through the blood. I've read alot. Remember little.

It is a tough choice. You may go through chemo without a fart. Each one of us are different. Even if I had known the symptoms they didn't tell me about, I think I still would have done it. It is just nice to know what to expect. But like my family doc said, if they put every possible side effect down on paper it would be a thousand pages.

My vote (if it means a squat) is go for a life. Even if you are cursed wiht chemo-brain, it is far batter than the other way. I find that I enjoy life far better than I ever would have if I hadn't went through this journey.

You have to remember, life can change in a second. You have the potential to find happiess at any turn. look for the happiness. forget the bummers. It's there, but have to look. Even if che possibility of chemo brain is in your future, don't give up. The good Lord gavre you life, and He will also decide when it should be taken away. You cannot defeat His wisdom. Life is gift. A great gift. You don't know what you can do until you give it a try. So just screw the chemo brain. You have achance at life, which is priceless. If you end up a drooling slob, I promise I will come visit you, and I will sing endless songs you would probably give up your dessert for me to stop. Think about it Chad! (Really just joking, I am not a stalker - don't have the energy or the memory. Not having a memory ain't so bad. Every day is anew experience/

Stay well friend. Don't be afraid. God looks after the sick.