Chemo brain - help!!!

terriskates
terriskates Member Posts: 11
edited March 2014 in Caregivers #1
My father is undergoing chemo for Stage IV CA with liver mets. My brother and I have noticed that at times he thinks he is somewhere else when he is at home or worse yet, does not recognize us as his children. He gets agitated when we have reoriented him for the upteenth time and tells us that we are confused, not him. He has also threatened me physically and had me in tears at times. What can we do besides tell the doctor?

Comments

  • stepmj
    stepmj Member Posts: 32
    #2
    Chemo brain - help!!!
    Hi -

    My Dad has been on chemo for 10 months straight for esophageal cancer with mets to the liver. In all this time he's not had the reaction you are describing. His chemo brain is much more subtle such as repeating stories, not being able to process complex information, not able to keep up with a fast conversation and things like that. I've never heard of any kind of aggression being part of chemo brain (not that I know everything). I would definately talk to the doctor and see if he/she believes this is chemo brain or something else. You can also probably talk with the nurses in the infusion center - my Dad's nurses are very helpful with information about side effects.

    Keep asking questions until you get an answer that makes sense to you - if what you are describing is chemo brain then maybe they need to reduce his chemo dose or change the drugs. I don't know the answer but I encourage you to ask lots of questions.

    Let us know how it goes.
    MJ
  • Barbara53
    Barbara53 Member Posts: 652
    #3
    accelerated aging
    There are some threads a few months back wherein angry/agitated dying parents abused their caregivers. They are all gone now, which makes me wonder if outbursts of rage are part of the process here. We understand so little about the dying process.

    How old is your father? My mother (patient) is 79, and after living among the old folks for a year and a half, it's worth noting that any type of stress sends them into a tailspin. I have seen a close family friend barely keeping it together one day, and then regain his sharpness the next.

    My mother is getting ready to start palliative chemo, and she's adjusting to giving up on cure. Sad days.

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