People undergoing chemotherapy become intimately familiar with the term “chemo brain,” as that feeling of cloudiness and mental fog that so often comes during and after treatment. Doctors and other medical professionals call it “post-chemo cognitive impairment” or “cancer-related cognitive change.”
This perceived impairment in thinking, learning, and problem-solving can be caused by the chemotherapy drugs, cancer or other disease being treated, secondary medical conditions like hypertension, or even anxiety about the condition or treatment.
The chemotherapy medications most likely to cause chemo brain include Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide), Adriamycin (doxorubicin), Adrucil (5-FU), and Taxol (paclitaxel).
Symptoms of Chemo Brain
Some of the symptoms of chemo brain include:
- Difficulty concentrating or staying focused on tasks
- Short-term memory loss
- Difficulty coming up with a specific word or recalling a name during conversations
- Losing essential items like keys, cell phones, or wallets
- Inability to remember appointments or items on the to-do list
If you’re having difficulty with negative changes to your cognitive functioning, be sure and mention it to your oncologist or primary care physician to ensure your future brain health. They may recommend you see a neuropsychologist.
According to the experts at M.D. Anderson, “Symptoms of chemo brain can fade after chemotherapy ends, but each patient is different. Some may take a year or more after treatment to feel normal again; others may never regain their full mental ability.
Managing and Treating Chemo Brain
There are several ways to improve cognitive function during and after chemotherapy treatment, including non-medical and medical options. After you’ve discussed your symptoms with your doctor, these coping strategies might be helpful, too.
Get enough sleep
To ensure good brain health, adults should get 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. If you’re not sleeping well, address the cause and possible OTC treatments with your physician or pharmacist.
Manage your moods
If you’re feeling anxiety or depression, do what you can to reduce your stress levels and add relaxing rituals to your day, like a long soak in the bath or a 20-minute meditation. If your feelings seem unmanageable, seek immediate help from your PCP or oncologist.
Know, too, that a diagnosis of cancer or any other serious illness can cause “medical PTSD,” which is often treatable with talk therapy and/or medication. PTSD brings its own set of symptoms, though some may mimic chemo brain.
Use organizing tools
There’s a reason so many adults use to-do lists and calendars to manage their day-to-day activities. It just makes life easier. You may be less able to track these things consistently when you’re struggling with chemo brain, so use your tools to keep you on track.
Get active
Your brain benefits from increased oxygen flow when you do aerobic exercise. Even a 10-minute walk around the block can help clear your mind and energize you mentally and physically.
Talk to your doctor if you have any questions!
Written by Lori Jo Vest
Fact checked by The Brain Blog Team