Have any of you had cognitive issues longterm?

Calico, I just wanted to say that when the gals give us research to read I print it.  I take it downstairs with me and I can refer to it later if need be.    I've got a stack of printed things.  I sometimes go through them and throw out what I don't need.

Shirley

No Shirley, dear Dad isn't on dementia meds, so no worry. He's 86, and sad to say, I make him look sharp!



Daylight driving ( won't go there on night time driving): "Navigating by the Sun". It's simple: sun comes up in the East, by noon it's Southeast, by three it's South and by six it's West.



That's about the only way I can get myself around nowadays. Just look at the sun's location, and the time, and head where you need to go based on that. Can be twenty streets north of the street I need to intersect, but hay, who cares, at least I'm heading in the right direction. What difference are making squares, circles, triangles, loopty loops, just hang on....I'll eventually get you there.



Yep, that's right, and if the gas tank light is on, well it's just one heck of a ride! So sit back, and enjoy!



Crazy looney Tender's taking you for a ride!

Wow, I guess I am "normal" after all.

I am not on Femara but on Tamoxifen and had a total hysterectomy 2 years ago.

I did have chemo brain but found the fog lifted, but some things changed and have since worsened. 

I have a heck of a time remembering people.

I know I know them but never mind from where or their names.

Sometimes they are good friends and there is nothing there.

I have no concept of time anylonger.

don't remember when bills arrived or whether I actually paid them. 

Long term memory is shot to pieces.

We went on holidays this summer and I hardly remember what we did If it wouldn't be for the pictures to proof we actually went away....

I work at a  Greenhouse and I am some glad we have to wear name tags.

It takes so much energy to remember everyone.

Remove me for a few days and the names are gone.

I work at our Coffee bar. And right now we are in the full swing of christmas.

I was supposed to decorate an arch way with christmas lights.

I grabbed a basket of lights went to the cap bar fridge. Opened it, placed my basket inside and turned away.

When I looked back I couldn't figure out why in gods name the basket was in the fridge. 

I just turned 40 this summer and find this memory loss so frustrating.

I can handle the bone pain etc.

But the memory and the wicked hot flashes together with not sleeping are just about doing me in.

I still have another 2 years of Tamoxifen ahead of me and honestly don't know whether I can continue.

I used to be a happy person and now, I am just miserable and moody. Tired and exhausted at all times.

But... I am still here and that is a good thing.

Sorry about the lenghty whining.

But it is nice to read that there are others out there with similar problems. 

christine 

Eileen,

With a fork?

laughing with you, dear....ok, I know it's not supposed to be funny, it's no laughing matter in reality when it happens, but your post made me feel so much better! I'm not the only one

Maybe your kids can learn to use the white board too, so that what they need doesn't fall off the memory plate?

Hugs, 

Here you go Saluki and ladies, maybe this will help our doctors remember....



CORRESPONDENCE Cognitive Impairment, Aromatase Inhibitors, and Age



Paolo Tralongo, Anna Di Mari Medical Oncology, G. Di Maria Hospital, Avola, Italy Francesco Ferrau'

Medical Oncology, San Vincenzo Hospital, Taormina, Italy Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 23, No 18 (June 20), 2005: pp. 4243



To the Editor:



The recommendations published in the January issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology1 regarding the use of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) confirm the advantages of using this drug in the adjuvant setting, and at the same time, underline the importance of monitoring the possible side effects, particularly for the subgroup of women for whom the risks and inconvenience of AI could outweigh the potential benefits.



One of the most common side effects following AI therapy that can have repercussions on the patient's quality of life, is bone fracturing,2 which is attributed to the reduced level (systemic and local) of estrogen as determined by the treatment.3,4 In fact, this estrogen deficiency reduces bone mineral density and causes osteoporosis, bone fractures, hot flushes, and arthritic discomfort. It has also recently been reported to have an effect on cognitive status, and in particular, short and long-term memory, which is correlated with estrogen deficiency.5 Estrogen receptors (ERs), including ER-{alpha} and ER-ß, are located throughout the brain, especially in the areas involved in learning and memory, such as the hippocampus and amygdala.6 The enzymes necessary for sex steroid biosynthesis have been identified in these same areas, suggesting that estrogen has an important role in the brain.7 Estrogen therapy has been one of the most compelling potential strategies for the prevention of dementia. The results from different studies suggest that hormonal therapy exerts its protective effect when used in the very early phases of the disease process or even before the disease begins. At the same time, because mild cognitive impairment frequently progresses to dementia,8 preventative action becomes a relevant issue, especially for elderly patients. In fact, age itself, through the reduction of estrogen exposure and the presence of comorbidities, can promote cognitive impairment, which is strictly correlated with the loss of independence in elderly patients.



The preliminary data on AI assumption suggests a possible impact on cognitive function: 94 women enrolled in the ATAC study and 35 healthy women were evaluated for cognitive function, after controlling for age and the use of hormone-replacement therapy. The women who received hormonal therapy manifested an impairment of verbal memory (P = .026) and task processing speed (P = .032).9 Preliminary results from the TEAM (tamoxifen versus examestane) trial indicated a significantly higher incidence of impaired word finding in women who were treated with examestane compared with tamoxifen.10



To conclude, this evidence supports the hypothesis that cognitive impairment could also be a late side effect of adjuvant hormonal therapy. With this in mind, it is essential to obtain an indication as to the true incidence rates and entity of the therapy and in particular to evaluate the actual conditioning that is brought about in terms of a reduction of the patient's activity of daily living and of their independence.



Therefore, we believe that the assessment of cognitive status should become a systematic component of drug and schedule (tamoxifen-AI) safety evaluation for prospective clinical trials employing AI and that, in the meantime, it is also important for physicians to consider this possibility, especially for elderly patients with initial memory impairment.



Tender



Dah....haven't got this Firefox, Safari interface down yet!

All of the above. forget why i went to the fridge, why I walked down the hall.search for my words then remember what i wanted to say the next day. First the Aromatase shuffle then the Aromatase forgetfullness. My life is made up of lists. and sticky notes

I was dx 2.5 years ago, had a mastectomy and only one chemo treatment before I chose to quit.  I had a short time before I started taking Tamoxifen, so I don't know if my current "brain-less state" is the Tamoxifen or the chemo.  But I know it exists.  And I'm sick of people telling me "you're just getting old, I'm the same way".  Because I KNOW that this came on VERY fast and it's nothing like I've ever experienced before.  I TOTALLY relate to all the stories you're telling. I see and understand why they're "different" than normal aging cognitive issues. I'm a single Mom with a business and "Multi-task" was my middle name.  Now...gosh I can't even remember any of the comparable things that happen to me.  I have only one pill a day and also had to get the pill boxes by day.  Like one of you, I would set the bottle down and instantly not know if I'd taken it.  I have a terrible time with words.  Everyday words.  My brain just can't keep up.  And driving...ohmygosh...I get in the worst fog.  That might be a combination of the cognitive issues AND fatigue.  Which is unbearable too.  I can barely drive my child somewhere, and I normally have to wait/sleep in the car when I get there (contests, concerts, practices, shopping, anything).  I'll do those odd things like staring at the item in your hand and wondering how ever did it get there, and what were you going to do with it?  Put it away, use it on something, throw it away, clean it...and, when did it change from pink last week to blue now, huh!?  What?  I have NO focus and I HOPE it's not long term.  I've just been given permission for a vacation from my Tamoxifen and I'm HOPING to see a difference.  I don't hold out much hope...I only get a month.  But...we'll see. 

I can so relate to what all of you are saying. I KNOW this must be AI related.

I forget just about everything, so much so that I can't think of silly things that have happened to me lately.

I just feel sooooo stupid, I am sure sick of people just about patting me on the head, and giving me 'there, there' looks. I went to town this afternoon to start a bit of Christmas shopping, one of my favorite stores had 25% off all day,and what did I do ?? I just plain forgot the store was running a promotion, and went in just about every store in town APART from the one I especially went to town for.

I also dropped my purse in a busy store, spilling all my coins and credit cards all over the floor, and when I got back to my car I had a parking ticket !

One thing I can do, which I notice a lot of you are saying is troublesome to you, is drive. I just love to drive, and when life gets a bitch I just slam into my car and vanish for two or three hours....just about the only thing I can still enjoy. ( Shirley.....I filled my car up today, it was almost on empty, and it cost me 68 pounds...sorry my pound sign has vanished....which will be about $120 I would think, so think yourself lucky!!!! Petrol is now one pound 10p a litre, I too have to use premium, so that is about $2 a litre, and 75% of that goes to our wonderful government in tax. ) 

 I have to go now, my DH had a tooth out today, and my God, you'd think he'd produced twins, he is SO worried about whether he can manage a drink or not!!!! If men had to have babies, and mastectomies!! Just wish all the problem I had was caused by having a tooth out.

Isabella.

Hi, I'm new to this chat room just found it today because I was looking to find out if other cancer survivor's were having difficulty with memory loss. I was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago - lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. Then was on Arimidex, but ended up with neuropothy in both hands, so my oncologist put me on Tamoxifen. I've been on it a little over a year.

It's just that recently - the last few months, that I've had a horrible time with my memory. At work it seems worse, and like "whatnow" said - I can't remember simple words. It's very frightning and was beginning to think I'd developed Alzheimers.

Anyway, I'm glad to know that others are facing the same problem. Maybe that will help with the anxiousness and then the memory loss won't be as bad.

I've just finished chemo and rads and am now on Tamoxifen.

I am Sleepy, Grumpy, and Dopey. As well as Hotflashy, Tubby, Bitchy, and Snorey. Those are the Seven Dwarves of Chemopause.

I am trying to get a Master's Degree and I can definitely notice the difference in my brain capabilities! And I've never done so many dumb things in my life like locking my keys in the car, or DROPPING my purse at the train station and losing it because I didn't notice!  Luckily someone returned it to lost and found...

I believe chemo can cause brain damage. I have had memory problems since then. I am also taking Aromasin. I did notice memory problems from Ambien plus anxiety. I think it is hard to figure out what drug causes what, but the compoundment of drugs can cause a lot of side effects. One being loss of memory. I hope somebody is collecting all this data and improves on treating people.

I finished chemo 4 years ago and I still have cognitive problems. I also take Aromasin. I believe my cognitive problems are from chemo, I think its a mild form of brain damage but nobody wants to admit to it. One has to consider - chemo is a poison! There are new studies being done to get away from chemo because it also kills good cells. I still have fatigue and nerve pain and I am not sure what is from chemo and what is from Aromasin.

I supposed I'm in just "one of those moods."  I don't find this to be funny RIGHT now.  In fact, I find it so damned sad.  And have tears in my eyes.

I believe we all just want to be NORMAL!  What the hell is that?

Shirley

Hi Ladies,

I just want to let you know that it isn't necessarily chemo & hormone treatment that causes this - I didn't do either and I have had the problem of walking into a room and not knowing why I was there, not being able to think of a word or someone's name, holding the medicine bottle in my hand and not knowing whether or not I took it and staring at the faucet in the shower and not knowing how to turn it on or off (that one was pretty scary).  I am 50 and I wouldn't expect this to be happening to me.  This actually started for me in my late 40's pre dx, so I can't even blame post traumatic stress disorder.  I think life has just gotten too fast and busy for our minds to keep up.  It is frustrating and sometimes overwhelming.

Just my two cents worth.

I agree that if you take a vacation from a certain medication and things improve, then, yeah, you have proof that it's a contributing factor. 

I am frustrated that I have no reason for being such a scatter brain sometimes.  It embarasses me that many of my friends & DH fill in words for me.  Scares me some, too.