Breast Cancer Chemo Drugs Affects Cognitive Function

Sometimes characterized as “chemo brain” is a decline in memory and other cognitive functions brought about by chemotherapy treatments that breast cancer patients usually complain about.

This was confirmed by a new study in mice that investigated the effects of chemotherapy on cognitive function.

The said study, conducted at Trent University, was headed by Dr. Gordon Winocur of the Baycrest Research Centre for Aging and the Brain, in collaboration with Drs. Ian Tannock and Janette Vardy of Princess Margaret Hospital.

Dr. Winocur stated:

“In our study, we identified learning and memory deficits in the mild to moderate range in the drug-treated mice compared to the controls. That the deficits were relatively small is encouraging.

It’s important that cancer patients continue with these drugs and know that if they experience mild to moderate impairments in their cognitive functions, this level of change is potentially manageable.”

The study findings are published in the September 2006 issue of Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior (Vol. 85, Issue 1) and were presented at a workshop at the recent 8th World Congress of Psycho-Oncology in Venice.

Find more details of the study results from the full report at Baycrest Research Centre.