Evelyn’s Top 12 Ways to Deal with Chemo Brain

Inspired by www.planetcancer.org




1. Don’t even bother trying to remember anything…have a trusty friend with you at all times and make sure they listen to everything everyone says to you…then get a daily report from them.

2. During conversations when your brain gives up and you stumble over a sentence, look the person directly in the eye and say, "Did you catch all that?"

3. Look at your doctor and say, "Whoa! You're treating me for WHAT?!?"

4. What was I saying?

5. Have a glass of wine

6. Ask your friend if you have already told them something you are about to tell them before you tell them…chances are you already did…..but just forgot.

7. Have other people cook for you or at least have them supervise you! Never cook alone unless you stay in front of the stove.

8. Don’t try to tell any jokes…..you WILL forget the punchline

9. Have a glass of wine. What? Did I already tell you that?

10. I forgot number 10

11. What was my point?

12. Where was I going with this?

What is chemobrain?

The terms "chemobrain" and "chemofog" refer to cognitive changes during and after cancer diagnosis and treatment. Though these terms imply a relation to chemotherapy, it isn't clear that chemotherapy is responsible. Women with breast cancer who underwent chemotherapy were the first group to bring these symptoms to light, as more started mentioning their symptoms to their doctors. It isn't clear whether chemotherapy, or other factors such as stress and hormonal fluctuations, cause the changes in memory and thinking. What is clear is that some people with cancer do notice increased difficulties with certain mental tasks during and after cancer treatment.

In general, researchers have found that chemotherapy can affect your cognitive abilities in the following ways:

 Word finding. You might find yourself reaching for the right word in conversation.
 Memory. You might experience short-term memory lapses, such as not remembering where you put your keys or what you were supposed to buy at the store.
 Multitasking. Many jobs require you to manage multiple tasks during the day. Multitasking is important at work as well as at home — for example, talking with your kids and making dinner at the same time. Chemotherapy may affect how well you're able to perform multiple tasks at once.
 Learning. It might take longer to learn new things. For example, you might find you need to read paragraphs over a few times before you get the meaning.
 Processing speed. It might take you longer to do tasks that were once quick and easy for you.

About 20 percent to 30 percent of people undergoing chemotherapy will experience cognitive impairment, though some studies report that at least half the participants had memory problems. One study found 35 percent of women with breast cancer had memory problems before beginning chemotherapy, so it's not clear how or if memory changes are related to cancer treatment. Signs and symptoms of these memory changes can last for a year or two after your treatment.

Changes in memory during and after treatment may be very subtle. You might notice changes during your everyday tasks and as you start working again after treatment. The memory changes are often so subtle, in fact, that researchers find that people who report having memory difficulties tend to score in the normal ranges on tests of their cognitive ability. That makes it more difficult to understand, diagnose and treat the memory changes.