Most people agree that receiving chemotherapy is not a fun experience, but everyone experiences treatment and side effects differently. One potential side effect that is often mentioned is so-called “chemo brain.”
While chemo brain is not a medical term, it is often used to describe mental fogginess during or after chemotherapy. Unfortunately, this condition is also common in people who have had chemotherapy.
Below, doctors break down what’s behind chemo brain, while cancer patients who’ve had it explain how it feels. And, because it’s always important to take action, an occupational therapist who treats patients with chemo brain explains the best steps you can take to move forward if you’re dealing with this problem yourself.
Experts featured in this article:
Wael Harb, MD, is a hematologist and medical oncologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Cancer Institute and Saddleback Medical Center in Orange County, California.
Dr. Heather Jim is co-director of the Health Outcomes and Behavior Program at Moffitt Cancer Center.
Krysten Chadwick is an occupational therapist at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Rehabilitation Oncology Institute.
What is chemo brain?
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), chemo brain is a phenomenon in which cancer patients notice that they are unable to think as clearly as before. This may include difficulty remembering things, completing tasks, or learning new things.
“Cancer patients sometimes experience this during treatment, especially after chemotherapy,” says Wael Harb, MD, a medical oncologist at MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast and Saddleback Medical Center in Orange County, California. “We don’t really understand the exact mechanism, but we think it’s related to the cancer itself.”
While this is called “chemo brain,” it’s not specific to the treatment. “Patients who do not receive chemotherapy may also experience short- or long-term cognitive impairment,” said Dr. Heather Jim, co-director of the Health Outcomes and Behavioral Program at Moffitt Cancer Center.
What are the causes of chemo brain?
Dr. Jim said there may be some underlying factors behind chemotherapy brain. This could include inflammation, accelerated cellular aging or the cancer treatment itself, she said.
“However, it is unclear why some patients develop cognitive impairment after cancer and others do not,” Dr. Jim said.
Stress, anxiety, or depression; trouble sleeping; not getting the right nutrients from your diet; weakness or weakness can also lead to chemo brain, according to the ACS.
What does chemo brain feel like?
Julia Park Tracey, a breast cancer survivor and author of “Silence: A Novel,” said her experience with Chemotherapy Brain was “challenging to say the least.”
“Although I knew what I meant, I couldn’t remember simple words,” she said. “I got home and got lost. I forgot people’s names. I didn’t trust myself to edit anything. I couldn’t remember the word ‘tears,’ so I called it ‘eye saliva.’ I was spaced out, forgetful, and unable to penetrate think.
Kommah McDowell, a breast cancer survivor and author of “A Silver Lining: Cancer Was the Worst Thing That Ever Happened to Me,” said she considers the “memory gap” she experienced Just caused by forgetfulness. But eventually she realizes that the memory block affects not only the present, but also her memory of the past. “That’s the reality of chemo brain: It affects my short-term and long-term memory. I could be in the middle of a conversation, or even say a sentence, and all of a sudden, everything I wanted to say is completely gone, and that’s usually the case.” Never. return.
Signs and Symptoms of Chemo Brain
According to the ACS, these are the most common signs and symptoms of chemotherapy brain:
- memory loss
- lack of concentration
- Difficulty remembering details such as names, dates, and events
- Difficulty coming up with ideas, planning activities, and making decisions
- When you forget a task while trying to multitask
- Having difficulty learning new things
- Takes longer to complete tasks
- Difficulty finding words
“These symptoms may be more severe when patients are tired, stressed, or trying to multitask,” Dr. Jim said.
How to Fight and Manage Chemo Brain
Krysten Chadwick, an occupational therapist at Arthur James Cancer Hospital and the Richard J. Solove Institute for Oncology Rehabilitation at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center.
“Your brain is kind of like a muscle that needs to be exercised or made better,” she said. Creating a list or calendar reminder is a “great first step,” Chadwick said. Beyond that, engaging in cognitive training or brain games can help improve brain resiliency, she says.
Trish said she found this helped with her chemo brain symptoms. “I try to do anything that needs real attention first in the day, rather than waiting until I’m tired,” she says. “I didn’t even try on days one through two of each week of chemo. Days three through six were better for thinking.”
Trish said she also allowed herself not to think. “I watch bland TV. I don’t read much, just mysteries on TV. Relaxing the brain means less stress and better recovery,” she says.
McDowell said she has learned the value of note-taking. “Equally important is being surrounded by people I trust — people who know how to gently remind me of things I’ve forgotten and who can laugh with me about what I can and can’t recall,” she says. “To me, laughter is an incredible comfort. I had to inject humor into these little ‘vignettes’ in time, otherwise those moments would be filled with tears, which was the case during my first five years. Happens often.
Ultimately, Chadwick said it’s important to advocate for yourself and speak out if you’re struggling with chemo brain. “This is something that can get better, especially with help,” she said. “It doesn’t need to be something you hold on to forever.”
Korin Miller is a writer specializing in general health, wellness, and lifestyle trends. Her work has been published in Women’s Health, Self, Health, Forbes, and other magazines.
