Guest guest Posted October 10, 2008 Report Share Posted October 10, 2008 > Listmates, > > I know this may be a tangent, but this is an interesting article (link below) > and I can¹t help but wonder if there might be a clue for our kids in this > problem... > > Here¹s a portion of the article... > > ³Just about anyone who's had any experience with cancer knows that > chemotherapy can cause some unpleasant side effects. Nausea, fatigue, and > hair loss are all common complaints. > > Over the past few years, though, a lesser-known side effect -- the cognitive > dysfunction commonly called " chemo-brain " -- has been getting more attention > from patients and doctors.² > > and.... > > ³Researchers are also studying whether certain genetic or hormonal factors > may make some people more susceptible to mental effects from chemotherapy. > Estrogen and a gene linked to Alzheimer's disease are two targets of > investigation.² > > http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_2_1x_Seeking_Solutions_to_Chem > o-Brain.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 Dear Anita, Thank you for posting that: " unable to think of words or finish sentences when speaking, not understanding simple questions or instructions, inability to focus on the task at hand, short term memory loss, etc. " This is the real me today. I went round and round with my neurologist, who sent me out of town to another facility and had numerous testing done, the latest was a brain MRI to see if I had dementia (I don't). I brought him literature from medical journals, until he finally capitulated and said, " O.K., I get it. " If you go to the web site you mentioned, there are several links and one of them said that INF was one of the culprits. I remember before I started it they asked my permission to do an MRI brain scan and some tests for manual dexterity. After I began INF, they asked me to do another, all with contrast. I never got the results of those tests, but I would now like to know, so one day (when I can remember, I will ask for it). These are not stories you can talk to your grandchildren about (LOL), but it's good to know if they found anything. Luv you Anita, Lottie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 Lottie, You are sucha sweet lady. Thank God for grandchildren. Oh yes I have quiet a few chemo-brain moments. You really should get the results form the brain scan. And you can share what u find out. Hope all is well in your home and have a very Merry Christmas. Christmas Day was my mothers birthday she died of lung Cancer complications 4 years ago. But she sent us snow Christmas Eve the year she passed. God Bless you and Jimmy and your family Love Anita ________________________________ From: Lottie Duthu <lotajam@...> CML < > Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 8:41:35 PM Subject: [ ] Chemo brain Dear Anita, Thank you for posting that: " unable to think of words or finish sentences when speaking, not understanding simple questions or instructions, inability to focus on the task at hand, short term memory loss, etc. " This is the real me today. I went round and round with my neurologist, who sent me out of town to another facility and had numerous testing done, the latest was a brain MRI to see if I had dementia (I don't). I brought him literature from medical journals, until he finally capitulated and said, " O.K., I get it. " If you go to the web site you mentioned, there are several links and one of them said that INF was one of the culprits. I remember before I started it they asked my permission to do an MRI brain scan and some tests for manual dexterity. After I began INF, they asked me to do another, all with contrast. I never got the results of those tests, but I would now like to know, so one day (when I can remember, I will ask for it). These are not stories you can talk to your grandchildren about (LOL), but it's good to know if they found anything. Luv you Anita, Lottie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 Thanks Lottie ________________________________ From: Lottie Duthu <lotajam@...> CML < > Sent: Sun, March 30, 2008 12:06:57 AM Subject: [ ] Chemo brain Dear Group, I did some research on chemo brain some time ago because my doctor didn't think it existed. I brought him enough information to read and asked him to at least look it over. He said he was hearing things in medical circles and that he was going to study it. Here are just a few articles that recognize cognitive dysfunction. Over the past few years, though, a lesser-known side effect -- the cognitive dysfunction commonly called " chemo-brain " -- has been getting more attention from patients and doctors. http://www.cancer. org/docroot/ NWS/content/ NWS_2_1x_ Seeking_Solution s_to_Chemo- Brain.asp The study of breast cancer survivors suggests the mental fog known as chemobrain might last longer than once thought and shows women treated with chemotherapy a decade ago still experience subtle memory problems. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-10-05-chemo-fog_x.htm " Until recently, oncologists would discount it, trivialize it, make patients feel it was all in their heads, " said Dr. Silverman, a cancer researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles, who studies the cognitive side effects of chemotherapy. " Now there's enough literature, even if it's controversial, that not mentioning it as a possibility is either ignorant or an evasion of professional duty. " http://www.iht. com/articles/ 2007/04/29/ news/chemo. php Blessings, Lottie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 16, 2009 Report Share Posted December 16, 2009 This is so timely, i had an appt with my hemo today(good news BCR-ABL negative...YAY)but i did mention to him that i am having trouble concentrating, and when im stressed its worse. Ive been on 400 mg Gleevec since 7/08. I keep thinking its because i just turned 50 but would chemo brain apply to us on gleevec? thank you Karyn > > > > Thanks Lottie > > > ________________________________ > From: Lottie Duthu <lotajam@...> > CML < > > Sent: Sun, March 30, 2008 12:06:57 AM > Subject: [ ] Chemo brain > > > Dear Group, > > I did some research on chemo brain some time ago because my doctor didn't think it existed. I brought him enough information to read and asked him to at least look it over. He said he was hearing things in medical circles and that he was going to study it. Here are just a few articles that recognize cognitive dysfunction. > > Over the past few years, though, a lesser-known side effect -- the cognitive dysfunction commonly called " chemo-brain " -- has been getting more attention from patients and doctors. http://www.cancer. org/docroot/ NWS/content/ NWS_2_1x_ Seeking_Solution s_to_Chemo- Brain.asp > > The study of breast cancer survivors suggests the mental fog known as chemobrain might last longer than once thought and shows women treated with chemotherapy a decade ago still experience subtle memory problems. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-10-05-chemo-fog_x.htm > > " Until recently, oncologists would discount it, trivialize it, make patients feel it was all in their heads, " said Dr. Silverman, a cancer researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles, who studies the cognitive side effects of chemotherapy. " Now there's enough literature, even if it's controversial, that not mentioning it as a possibility is either ignorant or an evasion of professional duty. " http://www.iht. com/articles/ 2007/04/29/ news/chemo. php > > Blessings, > > Lottie > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 6, 2011 Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 Hi Jim, During FR treatment in 2008, I experienced chemo-brain as a drop in my ability to remember, both short-term and long- term, facts as well as names. I had never experienced it before, and it made my work and everyday life a challenge, to say the least. Multi-tasking was suddenly much more difficult, and I felt overwhelmed and panicky whenever I was expected to deal with more than one thing/thought/step at a time (perhaps not unrelated to the memory issue). I felt like I couldn't truly *think* about anything. I had and still have, more faintly, a certain hard-to-describe, almost buzzing or dizzy feeling in my head at times when I'm struggling to wrap my mind around an idea. It has very, very gradually improved somewhat, but now, in my third year of remission, I'm still not back to pre-chemo capabilities. Not everyone is impacted by chemo in this way, apparently, but I know from my own experience that it can cause long- term difficulties. All I know to do is to hang in there, try to control the faint panic I sometimes still feel, and hope that my brain will continue to rehabilitate itself if I continue to use and challenge it. With the various treatments you've had, perhaps chemo-brain could possibly show up later, but I don't pretend to know. Your experience seems to differ from mine -- maybe you might learn of other possible causes by googling " memory loss? " ....or consult a neurologist? I wish I had some constructive suggestions other than to hang in there and continue to challenge yourself...oh, and writing things down helps. Best wishes to you, Karni dx Nov. 2003 at 59 yrs, asymptomatic Trisomy 12, CD38 42%, possibly familial (mother had CLL) tx F/R 2008, feeling well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 6, 2011 Report Share Posted June 6, 2011 Welcome to the club. It is real. I am 61 on my third bout and used to live in Ithaca, so maybe it is the water. For other reasons than just memory loss, I am out of work since Feb 1. You need to learn to live with it, have a sense of humor just like senioritis. At least we are here talking about it. What was your name again? Best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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