CHEMOBRAIN?

Ditase, so sorry you are going through this.

While many people report chemo-brain during chemo, there are some people for whom it lingers. The studies vary, I've read 15-30%.

There is a lot of controversy over this, a lot of doctors feel the effects involve other factors, the hormonal effects of treatment, stress, etc.

But there is certainly a lot of anecdotal evidence that patients report a real problem.

There is one study out of Stanford, which indicates chemo lowers frontal lobe brain activity. But it just involved 28 people, the 14 women all had mets, so there could be other factors at play.

There is one theory that some people may be more genetically vulnerable to chemo brain as well.

There are some good articles about this at NY Times.com, and there are two books out, one is called something like, your brain after chemo.

Unfortunately I think the medical community is a bit slow on this, their focus is on saving lives, more than side effects.

I read one article that says about 25% percent of "chemo brain" cases are actually caused by the chemo.

But it is your brain, it really doesn't matter what the stats are or if it is chemical, genetic, or psychosomatic.

I wish I had something more reassuring to say. Good luck and let us know what your doctors think.

Ditasea, chemo acts on cells when they are dividing - that is why many of the side effects are on the parts of our bodies with faster growth - hair, blood cell production, mucous membranes and such. Therefore, neurons should be safer from the direct effect of the chemo drugs than other areas even if it does penetrate the blood brain barrier. However, chemo also messes with red blood cells and sometimes hydration and chemical balance in our blood. Maybe that causes some of the temporary mental fog.

Chemo brain was the one side effect that made me consider not getting chemo since my life's work is very dependent on my ability to analyse complex information and multitasking. But being HER2+ the recurrence risk was too high to do without it. 

I am an engineer and my onc said the opposite of what Deanna was told - she said that she doesn't see chemo brain problems in people who are as focused as me. I don't think they really know - they haven't done that many tests on it and I think it is usually a subtle effect that an onc wouldn't notice during an appointment. 

I've been very pleased to find that I've survived chemo without any decrease in my ability to do my job. I've always had some deficit in ability to remember people's names (especially when under stress) or forgetfulness - I haven't noticed it getting any worse.

Hi Fellow Chemo Brain Sufferers,

I had dense dose chemo 4 AC and 4 Taxoteer/cytotoxin and finishe 3-21-08 and chemo brain has been one of my major problems post treatment. I still forget things easily and sometimes loose the thread of a conversation if I don't really concentrate. I am a Cartographer and it really doesn't seem to affect my accumulated knowledge, just the day to day thinking. Bless my children, they answer to whatever name I call them HAHA and haven't taken advantage of my forgetfullness too much..at least I don't remember it if they do. LOL My solution is a planner, if I write it down I seem to remember it better and I can refer to it when I don't remember.

Love to all,

Regina

AKA HairSprayMom

I guess I'm lucky that I don't have to rely on research or expert analysis regarding the existance of chemo brain. I was scheduled for 19 infusions. After only three A/C, I started having episodes of confusion, dizziness and sudden feelings like I was about to pass out. My husband would literally hold my limp body up and keep talking to me to keep me stimulated while I waited for the overwhelming weakness to pass. I felt as though my brain was bathed in chemo. I remember one night when supportful friends came by to visit. I sat there smiing when every one else smiled, laughing when everyone else was laughing, knowing full well the entire time I had no comprehension of what anyone was talking about. I had a brain scan prior to chemo to check for METS. I demanded a brain scan after the third infusion, still concerned that METS explained that evening and all my other cognitive difficulties. Conclusion? Chemo had passed the blood brain barrier and thickened my white matter and cause me to have TIA's. There has been improvement with my cognition. But three years later I still struggle with everything you mentioned. You can't erase a TIA. I rely on compensatory strategies now. Ten years is a long time and I am 56 years old. I could very likely be suffering from demntia by then and it will be impossible to separate the two cognitive declines. Personally I don't really think that chemopause and all the hormonal variables are all that relavant! If chemo brought them on, then to me, it is still chemo brain!

I decided not to do the chemo. I think my onc was ok with the decision (2-4%benefit is not a home run), but he took real issue with potential chemo brain being a factor.

Cest la vie!