Toxic side effects of chemotherapy on the brain may give rise to a number of mild cognitive impairments that are sometimes referred to as chemobrain. These effects of chemotherapy on the brain do not affect all cancer patients but may be particularly debilitating in combination with radiation treatments and the general stress of living with cancer. With patience, perseverance and practice, however, the effects of chemotherapy on the brain can be managed.
Forgetfulness
One of the most common cognitive side effects of chemotherapy is a general difficulty in remembering people, places, objects and events that would typically be remembered with no effort. These effects on memory may get better or worse with time. According to the National Cancer Institute, it can be helpful for chemotherapy patients to keep a journal or their memory problems. This may help symptoms subside and can also be helpful in assessing the long-term effects of chemotherapy and cancer on a patients memory problems. Many cancer patients receiving chemotherapy do not experience any symptoms of forgetfulness, leading some doctors to question whether or not chemobrain really exists. One problem in diagnosing the side effects of chemotherapy on the brain is that many cancer patients are high-functioning before the onset of cancer and can perform quite well on cognitive tests, even after chemotherapy. It is important to note that additional factors such as radiation treatments, stress, depression and cancer itself may form the basis for forgetfulness symptoms found in many cancer patients.
Spoken Language Difficulties
The effects of chemotherapy on the brain may cause mild speech problems. It is not uncommon for chemotherapy patients to have trouble remembering common words and phrases as a side effect of chemotherapy. This potential side effect generally manifests as an inability to find the right words to name a simple object or to express ideas and feelings. Individuals experiencing memory side effects of chemotherapy may also forget names of people, particularly people they have met recently.
Lack of Focus
Chemotherapy patients often lose focus and have some symptoms similar to those of ADHD sufferers, such as trouble concentrating. Problems with multitasking are very common among those experiencing cognitive side effects of chemotherapy drugs. MayoClinic.com explains attention problems may be further enhanced by a general delay in completing everyday tasks. The American Cancer Society recommends that patients taking chemotherapy avoid multi-tasking and focus on one specific task at a time. To remain on task, chemotherapy patients with attention issues should keep a detailed schedule or daily planner and should schedule breaks for mental and physical rest.
Learning Difficulties
Chemotherapy patients may have difficulty learning new tasks. It can be beneficial for chemotherapy patients, even those not experiencing cognitive side effects, to specifically exercise the brain, says the American Cancer Society and Chemocare.com. Activities such as learning to play a new musical instrument or studying a foreign language may enhance brain fitness and decrease future learning difficulties in chemotherapy patients.
Depression
The emotional shock and fatigue of living through cancer can cause great stress and depression. The psychological effects of cancer are sometimes compounded with chemotherapy treatment. A number of chemotherapy patient resources, such as MayoClinic.com, recommend regular exercise to manage the symptoms of stress, fatigue and depression associated with cancer and chemotherapy.
