October 12, 2010
People with a history of cancer are 40 percent more likely to report memory impairment, says a recent study from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Such problems with memory and thinking are commonly referred to as “chemobrain,” but the study authors point to possible causes other than chemotherapy including:
- Other treatments, such as radiation or hormonal therapy
- Possible changes in brain chemistry due to the cancer itself
- Psychological distress caused by the diagnosis and illness
- A combination of any or all of the above.
Read more in yesterday’s New York Times article about the study. Get tips for managing chemobrain in CancerCare‘s fact sheet series on this topic:
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Treatment Side Effects, Uncategorized | Tagged: chemo brain, chemobrain, cognitive problems | 
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Posted by Monica Cavazos Mendez
July 28, 2009
Your Brain After Chemo: A Practical Guide to Lifting the Fog and Getting Back Your Focus (Da Capo Press, 2009) draws on the latest scientific research on chemobrain and on post-treatment survivor stories to present a clearer picture of what chemobrain is and how people experiencing it can cope.
Co-authored by Idelle Davidson, an award-winning health and medicine journalist; and UCLA’s Dan Silverman, MD, PhD, Your Brain After Chemo gives readers practical tips for coping with fatigue, inattention, poor concentration and other chemobrain symptoms; it also lists organizations, websites and other resources that can help.
Also see CancerCare‘s Chemobrain Information Series, for more information. These fact sheets cover cognitive problems after chemotherapy, how to talk to your doctor about chemobrain, ways to improve your concentration, and techniques for sharpening your memory.
Leave a Comment » | Coping with Cancer, Mind-Body-Spirit | Tagged: chemobrain, chemotherapy, side effects | Permalink
Posted by Monica Cavazos Mendez
