Does chemo destroy Brain cells?

Options
2»

Comments

  • spar2
    spar2 Member Posts: 6,827
    edited November 2009

    Sierra, good to see you post, have missed you. I was told by a kidney specialist that chemo did cause it, the onc says no way.  She also does not believe in chemobrain.  It is for real and we all know it.  There is suppose to be a herb that helps with memory.  I went to the store to get an eggcrate mattress, got home and I had cards, some food, and I'll be darn I forgot to get what I went after.  It gets so frustrating.  The only way I can remember is make notes upon notes.  I read a lot but it is not really helping. I am going to check at our library and see if they have anything on it and talk to my primary care dr.   Happy remembering ladies.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited February 2012
    Just picking up this thread. A study was published today that linked CMF to long term cognitive issues.  I supsect that when they study other chemos they will find similar issues.  For some reason, I cannot get a link to post here, so I am posting part of a summary of the study, which was done by the American Society of Clinical Oncology:

    "First Study on Long-Term Cognitive Effects of Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Finds Subtle Impairment Among Women Who Received CMF Regimen

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
    February 27, 2012

    In This News Digest:

    • Summary of a study being published online February 27, 2012 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, showing that women who underwent a once-common chemotherapy regimen known as CMF between 1976 and 1995 score slightly lower on cognitive tests that measure word learning, memory and information processing speed than women without a history of cancer.
    • While CMF is no longer the standard of care for breast cancer, there are many breast cancer survivors alive today who received this regimen 20 or more years ago and who may be experiencing such cognitive difficulties.
    • Quote for attribution from Sylvia Adams, MD, American Society of Clinical Oncology cancer expert
    • Links to additional information on Cancer.Net, ASCO’s patient Website

    Dutch investigators have reported that women who received CMF chemotherapy (a combination regimen including the drugs cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil) for breast cancer between 1976 and 1995 scored worse on cognitive tests than women who never had cancer. The differences in performance were subtle but statistically significant, and occurred mainly in word learning, memory and information processing speed. The findings – published February 27 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology – indicate that cognitive problems, which are known to occur shortly after treatment, may also be observed 20 years after treatment.

    "To our knowledge, this is the first study to suggest that subtle cognitive deficits may be among the long-term effects of chemotherapy, especially of the earlier regimens,” said one of the senior authors Sanne B. Schagen, PhD, a Group Leader at the Department of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology at the Netherlands Cancer Institute/Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital in Amsterdam. 

    "Our findings do not suggest that breast cancer survivors treated with CMF chemotherapy need to be monitored more closely for cognitive difficulties. But if breast cancer patients experience cognitive problems, information about the possible long-term effects of their breast cancer treatment may help to guide referral to appropriate support services."

    Prior studies have shown that chemotherapy can have immediate effects on cognitive function, such as causing forgetfulness or problems processing information, which can last five to ten years. Animal studies have also demonstrated that 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate and cyclophosphamide are associated with impaired learning and memory and changes in brain structure. Yet until the current study, the very long-term cognitive effects of such chemotherapy drugs have been unknown."

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited February 2012

    There's an article on the main Breastcancer.org site too, all about Memory Loss, and some of the breast cancer treatments and other factors known to affect it - including some chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormonal therapy.

    Hope this helps!

    Judith and the Mods

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited February 2012

    HI Judith and Mods!

    Thanks for your interest in this topic. I hope that you will cover the actual study in th eJournal of Clinical Oncology  on CMF and permanent cognitive issues. The implications are different from memory loss that happens from aging  and I do not think it is anything that any of us expected to have on a permanent basis.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited February 2012

    Mandy, here's the link to the ASCO news release you cite, with a further link to a full copy of the study.

    .

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2012

    Hi Mandy, thank you for bumping and posting that, I'm a very very bad case.  Just love the word 'SUBTLE' in their title......When I complain to the onco, he says 'I have chemo brain too'.....oh yea ?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mandy1313
    Mandy1313 Member Posts: 1,692
    edited February 2012

    Or the other thing doctors do is to say that at a certain age you can expect to lose some cognitive function.  but what if the problem started while you were on chemo and what if you aren't that old.

    thanks for posting Maud. I am glad that the article gave you some insight into your situation.

    Hugs 

    Mandy

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories