Chemobrain: Real or Not?
I’ve heard lots about chemobrain. You know, the mild cognitive impairment people experience while they’re undergoing chemotherapy. Memory lapses. The inability to retain details and common words. Difficulty concentrating. The inability to multi-task. Those top the list of complaints people have. The American Cancer Society says it’s real (here’s the link). They also estimate (on the low side) that 20-30% of people undergoing chemotherapy will get it.
You can imagine my surprise when I read this, hot off the newswire today:
Chemotherapy effects on brain may be a myth.
Huh? A myth?
I was intrigued, so I read on. Seems two distinct research studies were conducted with small groups of women, one in Melbourne and one in Michigan, and researchers are thinking that maybe it’s the stress of a breast cancer diagnosis and other ‘quality of life’ issues that are causing the fog.
Really? Chemobrain is not real?
Now, I didn’t have chemotherapy, either time I was treated. So, if you had chemotherapy you tell me … was your chemobrain real or not?
(Image: Tim Lynch)
Tags: breast cancer, breast cancer blog, cancer, Chemotherapy, health, wellness, womenRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Chemotherapy, News Items, Research
1 opinion for Chemobrain: Real or Not?
Sarah S.
Apr 18, 2008 at 7:58 am
Yes! I started to experience chemo brain right after my first treatment. I have been talking backwards. Switching the first letters of the words I say. I have done this before but not 6 or 7 times a day every day. I say it is real. Not just stress of diognosis. I was diognosed in January and have only just started the chemo brain.
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