chemobrain

timlou

Can anyone tell me if anything new is on the horizon for chemobrain? My 32 year old daughter just finished up surg, shemo and radiation one year from diagnosis with stage III and has tried to start school. She's having all kinds of trouble putting sentences together. Oddly enough math does not seem to be a problem different sides of the brain maybe? Thanks for any help you can give. Jenns Mom Louise

inkblot

Hi Louise:

Has she spoken with her medical team about this, in depth? If so, what was their advice/opinion?

Within the medical community, there is great debate about whether chemo actually causes this phenomena and some docs deny it's existence altogether. (Just ask us though!) She may benefit from a consult with a specialist who acknowledges this thing and can help her with it.

Some of us experience chemobrain to varying degrees but I've not spoken with anyone having trouble with speech and/or writing sentences. Mostly, we forget where we put things, forget what we were about to do, or say to someone and it can be maddening. It may be beneficial to her to try list making, as well as keeping a careful calendar, to help her stay more organized until it settles down. Honestly, I haven't heard of any specific treatment, old or new.

It's great that she has no trouble with math and it may well be that right brain-left brain thing which accounts for that.

I'm not sure which would be the best pro to consult, but I'd suggest she contact a neuropsychologist and go from there. These specialists are adept at assessing things which can/do effect the brain and its function. Hoping someone else here may have some additional ideas.

Not much but hope that helps in some way. Best wishes to your daughter.

Love, light and laughter,
Ink

krisrey

inkblot said:

Hi Louise:

Has she spoken with her medical team about this, in depth? If so, what was their advice/opinion?

Within the medical community, there is great debate about whether chemo actually causes this phenomena and some docs deny it's existence altogether. (Just ask us though!) She may benefit from a consult with a specialist who acknowledges this thing and can help her with it.

Some of us experience chemobrain to varying degrees but I've not spoken with anyone having trouble with speech and/or writing sentences. Mostly, we forget where we put things, forget what we were about to do, or say to someone and it can be maddening. It may be beneficial to her to try list making, as well as keeping a careful calendar, to help her stay more organized until it settles down. Honestly, I haven't heard of any specific treatment, old or new.

It's great that she has no trouble with math and it may well be that right brain-left brain thing which accounts for that.

I'm not sure which would be the best pro to consult, but I'd suggest she contact a neuropsychologist and go from there. These specialists are adept at assessing things which can/do effect the brain and its function. Hoping someone else here may have some additional ideas.

Not much but hope that helps in some way. Best wishes to your daughter.

Love, light and laughter,
Ink

Hi Ink,
I remember reading in the "Cure" magazine that it may not be the chemo but the actual cancer that cause the "chemobrain"...interesting.....!!!
In saying that...I can assure all that my "brain" does not function as normal some of the time. My problem seems to be forgetting where I put things, and if I have to wait to say something that I think is important or even in conversation..I go total blank. I feel like an idiot sometimes when I am in the middle of a conversation and totally loose my train of thought.
I am not sure what causes it...the chemo...or the cancer...all I know is it is real, although a small price to pay for me just to be able to be alive!
Like Louise said...I do not seem to be affected with math, sports, or playing the piano, I wonder if it ever gets better????
Take care all!
Kristen

tlmac

Hi Louise, A year of treatment is exhausting. Perhaps she's expecting too much too soon. The body takes time to recover from the assult of cancer treatment, though I can understand how anxious she is to "get back to normal." To answer your question, I believe I read where there are clinical trials looking into whether ducgs like Ritalin that stimulate the adult brain or even Procrit that increase the number of red blood cells capable of carrying more oxygen and nutrients to brain cells, might improve cognitive function and memory for those most affected by it. These drugs are not currently being prescribed for chemobrain, however, and may never be. This will all depend on the results of clinical trials. Since we all suffer chemobrain to varrying degrees, there's no certainty what causes it. I agree with Ink that your daughter should discuss the extent of her condition with her medical team. There are conditions (such as depression) or even medications (prescribed to help us sleep or relax) that can produce memory related issues. These should be ruled out. In the event no other cause can be found, there ar strategies that might help: make lists, use a tape recorder, carrying a personal calendar and take plenty of notes. Puzzles stimulate (exercise) the brain and are enjoyable to many. Reduce stress by means of support groups, medication, exercise or yoga classes rather than by taking medication that might contribute to her memory issues.
Start with a visit to the doctor. Good luck!
terri

mc2001

Hi there,
I also had chemotherapy and radiation. I had leukemia. It has been ten years since treatment and I still have short term memory difficulties. I have tried school... still enrolled, but its difficult! For me, math really took the hardest! I am terrible at math, where before treatment I wasnt. Tell you daughter not to give up.. and to just take her time with things. God bless.
-Michael
PS: If your daughter stutters, stammers, or is slow to speak... the best thing for her is that the listener should show much patience and let her finish her thought.

hounddog

Hello there are times that I come to a total blank on something and I had chemo treatments two years ago April 2003 -June of 2003 I read on a site that chemo does cause short term memory loss. Have your Daughter talk to her doctors about this problem .
marilyn

prayerangel

hounddog said:

Hello there are times that I come to a total blank on something and I had chemo treatments two years ago April 2003 -June of 2003 I read on a site that chemo does cause short term memory loss. Have your Daughter talk to her doctors about this problem .
marilyn

My chemo brain lasted 18 mos. after my last treatments. I forgot how to describe things, couldn't remember certain words in sentences. It gets better as time goes on. I lost my wedding ring for 6 months, and brand new thumb splints (my arthritis) for 3 months because I couldn't remember where I put them. It definitely (the chemo) affected my brain. If I could describe it, it would be "fuzzy".

Imamom

I'm a 36 year-old survivor who experienced a lot of cognitive issues related to chemotherapy. I was surprised to learn that the medical literature states that up to 35% of women undergoing chemo experience cognitive impairment (delayed short and long-term memory, attention difficulties, and slow speed of processing.) But, despite how well-documented this is, if you take the time to check out the product information on each and every chemotherapeutic agent in use for breast cancer today, you'll find that not one indicates memory or cognitive-related side effects! It feels very dishonest.
What's important to remember when you get frustrated, is that though brain cells are not regenerative, they are compensatory--meaning, you can train new areas of your brain to "pick up the slack" for those that aren't functioning well due to the chemo-fog. Most neuropsychologists will suggest compensatory stratgies, also known as cognitive remediation. This includes things like keeping lists and diaries to track your memory problems, to exercise your body, and to exercise your mind by learning a new skill or task; completing crossword puzzles or joining a book club. One thing that I'd like to recommend that I stumbled across, is a computer program that offers this type of "cognitive remediation" in more of a "one-stop-shopping" way. Even though it required a lot of work (one hour a day for up to 40 sessions), I was amazed by how much "clearer" I felt by the end of the program. And it was so easy to set up; all I needed to do was install a disk onto my PC. Just two weeks after using the program, my friends and family all remarked on how much my focus had improved. When I found out about the product, I had the good fortune of signing up to be a "beta tester", which meant that the software was made available to me for free. I'm not sure if the company is still offering this, but anyone who is interested should seriously thinking about contacting them. Their website is: www.positscience.com
Most importantly, remember to keep the faith. It's your body that's changed; you're still the lovable person you were before you even heard your diagnosis. Good luck!