Does chemo brain exist?
For many people who have survived cancer there is a condition that includes memory loss, a feeling of a foggy brain, or cognitive changes that are called cognitive dysfunction. These symptoms may last for several years after the cancer treatment has stopped in some cases, but for the most part they disappear after the treatments stop.
“Chemo Brain” is a misleading term in the fact that it is not proven that chemotherapy actually causes it. Cancer survivors may retain all of their brain functions, but some do not but yet they still score well on test that measure their cognitive responses. This has lead doctors to wonder if it is actually the chemotherapy that actually causes “Chemo Brain” or if it really exists.
While the possibility of “Chemo Brain” being a result of chemotherapy is still in question, it is clear that the symptoms of “Chemo Brain” are real and frustrating to the patients that experience it. Memory loss and the debilitating side effects that stem from it are real and there are studies being conducted to help understand this condition better.
The fact is that “Chemo Brain” happens in cancer patients but no one knows why or what triggers it. Studies are being conducted to see what may cause it and what can stop it, but to date, it still unknown. Research is ongoing as to the cause, treatment, and prevention of “Chemo Brain” and an answer will be found soon.
Research has proven that women treated by chemotherapy for breast cancer, compared to those who weren’t, had changes in their brain activity. Some of these changes continued for five to ten years after the patient stopped her chemotherapy treatment. “Chemo Brain” may be a result of several factors including:
• The type and severity of the cancer.
• The medicines used to treat the cancer.
• Other supporting medicines required for treatment.
• The age of the patient.
• The stress level of the patient.
• Blood count levels.
• If the patient is depressed or not.
• The fatigue levels of the patient.
• Changes in hormone levels.
It is certain that “Chemo Brain” affects both genders and is a real factor in the cancer process. Chemotherapy is not the only cause of “Chemo Brain” due to the fact that only 20 to 30% of patients receiving chemotherapy get “Chemo Brain” as a side effect.
There are factors that may increase the chance of a patient getting “Chemo Brain” during his or her treatment and they include:
• The type of cancer; specifically brain cancer.
• If the chemotherapy is delivered straight into the central nervous system.
• The combination of whole-brain radiation and chemotherapy.
• The levels of chemotherapy and the type of cancer.
• Cancer that requires radiation therapy to the brain.
• And the age of the patient at the time of diagnosis and treatment of the cancer.
If you experience any of the symptoms of “Chemo Brain” you need to talk to your doctor to find ways of counteracting the condition.