chemo brain?

Im 2 yrs past chemo....and I still have post chemo isuues. I did refer to it as "chemo brain", but after having a conversation with my onc about concentration ect..ect...he said its most likely due to lack of estrogen (Lupron) now.

Things are a bit better than say 1 year ago, but I am more forgetful. I have to write everything down. I use to be such a multitasker...not anymore. New normal I guess?

Bugs,

I was having a conversation with my husband a few weeks ago. I was telling him thank god I finished my education before my diagnosis. There would be no way I could have the motivation/drive, concentration and memory skills to do any schooling now.

Chemo brain was my roommate for a while! Fortunately, it does get better.

I was once doing errands during chemo when I noticed that I wasn't wearing my ring (replacement wedding ring) which I ALWAYS have on. I carefully looked through all my packages, didn't find it, and started to review in my head the stores I had been to so I could go back and search. Let's see, I just came from the bookstore, and before that -

Before that I was at the jeweller, where I'd dropped off my ring for repair.

Leah

I am constantly forgetting words  that I want to use/say. I just can't think of them. I even forgot my doctors name. Sometimes I feel like I am going crazy and I think people think I am because I can't hold an intelligent conversation at times.

Kimber, I had such bad chemo brain even after I felt better physically. I did absolutely all the things you have reported here. I couldn't hold a thought. One day, still during chemo, I lost my way home over very familiar roads. I knew that they were familiar roads, I just had to pull over and think for a while.

The worst examples of chemo brain, however, occurred after I had recovered physically. Here are two examples, both a few months after chemo: I went back to work full time, and as I have always done for years, I put my pocketbook over my shoulder last thing and exited the house. Repeatedly, I would say five or six times, I would be rushing around, and couldn't find my pocket book. I would get frantic and have my husband help me look so I wouldn't be too late. Every time he would look at me after searching for a few minutes, and say, 'Weesa, it is already on your shoulder."

The worst was one day I had been at a meeting outside the office. Driving back to the office I realized my cell phone was nowhere in the car with me. I was convinced I had it on my lap and when I got out of the car to go to the meeting it had fallen out onto the parking lot. I drove back and searched the parking lot and the floor of the car, no cell phone. I couldn't see it anywhere. Then...I realized I had been talking on it the same time I was searching for it.

 Every day for years now I called my voice mail in the morning to leave a fresh message, "You have reached my desk, today is such and such a date, I am probably out of the office, please leave me a message and I will return your call..." etc. etc. I could not say this message, I would stumble across the words, finally after multiple tries I would get something that sounded fairly good, but several people who knew me well knew I didn't normally stutter or flub words. That went away gradually.

For quite a while Chemo brain was dubious--but now with testing it has been quantifiable. It is not your imagination!. 

HI there:

  I have chemo brain! I am 6 years out and I still am forgetful and cannot concentrate for long periods of time on tasks at work. I am a scientist, so this makes it a bit challenging.

My oncologist acknowledged that I have chemo brain. It is a real phenomena.

I can say though, my fogginess and forgetfulness has improved, though not gone.

Another effect of treatment. After awhile you just have to laugh!

wallan 

My whopper happened when the scheduler brought me an appointment card during chemo for my next treatment.  At the end of that day's treatment, I went to the appointment desk and made an appointment, totally forgetting that I already had an appointment.  I didn't figure out my error until I got a call from the cancer center saying I'd missed an appointment the previous day.

I still have difficulty remembering words, especially names, but I do think my memory has gotten better since I completed chemo at the end of September.

Kimber - your description of you standing there with your pan made me laugh!! Yep, i am more forgetful too. And I think I have issues with finding words sometimes. And finishing sentences.

My husband and I play a lot of Scrabble, and I think that has helped in keeping my mind focused on things.

Sh**! Chemo brain strikes again.  I forgot to post the main thing I wanted to say in my earlier post.  A lot of you are mentioning a possible link between a change in hormones and the chemobrain.  In my case I'm hormone negative and went into menopause at 34 due to a hysterectomy. I still have major chemobrain. So....in my case it doesn't have any correlation with hormones or lack thereof.

yeah..

I was reading about Hussein, Osama Hussein and marveled at his beard, wondered why those beautiful eyes housed a soul so twisted and cruel.

I wondered why cruel and gruel happened to rhyme.

OK, Karen, what stimulants are you taking? I'd like to remember more than 2 things a day.

Leah

I am so greatful I found this topic.  At my last dr. visit I was complaining about my forgetfulness to my onc.  I had heard the term 'chemo brain' and asked my dr. about it.  He basically said he didn't believe in chemo brain.  I am a year and four months out from chemo. I can relate to and have done many of the things you gals mention in your postings above.

Great use of words Cherneski.  The problem is that I need to get to the point where I can teach the kids with the helmets who are on the short bus.  So far I can't do it, cuz they are able to do more than me at times, expecially in the multitasking area.

Yep Chemo Brain totally blows! I am 2 yrs 5 mo out and I still have issues. My day planner is my best friend. All I can say is WRITE IT DOWN.

XO,

Regina

I'm back at work full time and while I feel like I'm doing pretty good, but do find certain situations or procedures that slip my mind and I am forced to look up the information.  Concentration is better, but it still seems a little off at times.  I do try to mentally challenge myself with crosswords and other mind games - working out the muscle between the ears.............

Even though we have computers, phones and other electronic equipment to give us reminders I find that the good ole' post-it notes help the best.  I use a bright color and stick it to my phone or my keys if I want to remember something as I'm walking out of the door, on the dash of the car or on the phone receiver at work.  I have to say I needed these before chemo - so I can't blame it on chemo brain.  I also leave messages for myself on my voicemail at work - this really helps a lot.