Chemo brain
DEFINITION
Chemo brain is a common term used by cancer survivors to describe thinking and memory problems that can occur after cancer treatment. Chemo brain can also be called chemo fog, chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment or cognitive dysfunction.
Though chemo brain is a widely used term, it’s misleading. It’s unlikely that chemotherapy is the sole cause of concentration and memory problems in cancer survivors.
Despite the many questions, it’s clear that the memory problems commonly called chemo brain can be a frustrating and debilitating side effect of cancer and its treatment. More study is needed to understand this condition.
CAUSES
It’s not clear what causes signs and symptoms of memory problems in cancer survivors. Cancer-related causes could include:
- Cancer treatments
- Chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Stem cell transplant
- Surgery
Complications of cancer treatment
- Anemia
- Fatigue
- Infection
- Menopause (associated with hormone therapy)
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Sleep problems, such as insomnia
- Emotional reactions to cancer diagnosis and treatment
- Anxiety
- Depression
Other causes
- Inherited susceptibility to chemo brain
- Medications for other cancer-related signs and symptoms, such as pain medications
SYMPTOMS
Signs and symptoms of chemo brain may include:
- Being unusually disorganized
- Confusion
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty finding the right word
- Difficulty learning new skills
- Difficulty multitasking
- Fatigue
- Feeling of mental fogginess
- Short attention span
- Short-term memory problems
- Taking longer than usual to complete routine tasks
- Trouble with verbal memory, such as remembering a conversation
- Trouble with visual memory, such as recalling an image or list of words
When to see a doctor
If you experience troubling memory or thinking problems, make an appointment with your doctor. Keep a journal of your signs and symptoms so that your doctor can better understand how your memory problems are affecting your everyday life.
