Confronting Chemobrain after Breast Cancer

While the name may sound like slang, the term “chemobrain” is becoming more recognized as a real experience of some breast cancer patients. The symptoms include memory loss, inability to concentrate and difficulty thinking.

Researchers from the UCLA Center for Culture and Health recently studied the problem with focus groups and in-depth interviews of 74 women who had completed breast cancer treatment. Their research was published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship.

Many of the women in the study described cognitive changes that were both frustrating and upsetting to them. Most of the women complained about the medical community’s failure to acknowledge chemobrain symptoms. Women were also upset that they didn’t receive any warning about the cognitive problems that affected their work and family lives.

The researchers concluded that chemobrain can seriously affect the lives of cancer survivors – emotionally, psychologically and economically. They noted that a clear understanding of the impairments faced will help doctors develop therapies and interventions to improve the lives of cancer survivors.

The American Cancer Society offers some tips on dealing with chemobrain.

(Image Cancer Survivor’s Garden in Chicago via Wikimedia Commons)