W
hen Karen Foster was
diagnosed with breast cancer
at 48, it was a “huge shock”,
she says. Karen had chemotherapy and
has made a good recovery, but 10 years
on is still suffering the after-effects,
which impact her memory
and concentration.
During chemotherapy,
around 70 percent of
cancer survivors report
difficulties including
fuzzy thinking, trouble
finding words and
difficulty concentrating.
For about 30 percent,
these issues continue after
treatment is finished.
Collectively, these symptoms have
been dubbed ‘chemo brain’, because
of their supposed association with
chemotherapy. But more recently,
research has shown that about 30
percent of people with breast or bowel
cancer have cognitive impairment
before they start treatment.
This has led scientists to question
whether the tumour itself may
be responsible. New research has
supported this idea, and importantly,
scientists have also discovered that
early use of anti-inflammatory
medications may be able to
prevent memory problems.the brain drain
Dr Adam Walker, a researcher at
Neuroscience Research Australia,
explains that chemo brain was first
described by people with cancer. Like
so-called ‘baby brain’, some have
wondered if it’s a real thing, but
objective neuropsychological tests –which quantify the degree of cognitive
impairment – show that around 30 to
40 percent of patients have objective
cognitive decline, he says.
Furthermore, “you have to bear in
mind that the tests we’re using are
designed to pick up some
quite strong deficits,” he
explains. “They’re not
really designed to pick
up very mild cognitive
impairment, which
might mean that we’re
missing a whole bunch
of people who are
telling us that they’re
having problems, but we
can’t actually measure it.”What causes it?
The cause of chemo brain isn’t fully
understood, but several mechanisms are
being investigated. These include the
toxic effects from chemotherapy and/or
the cancer on the brain, changing
hormone levels, the role of
neurotransmitters and genetic factors.
Two animal studies have looked at
changes that might be occurring in the
brain. Neuroscientists from Stanford
University, published research in the
journal Cell in January, showing that the
cancer drug methotrexate adversely
affected three types of brain white
matter cells in young mice.
A 2017 study at the University of
Kansas found that hydrogen peroxide
levels – which may cause damage
that affects cognitive function –
temporarily increased in the brains
of chemotherapy-treated rats.
Other studies have looked at genetic
markers that could indicate increased »MANY CANCER SURVIVORS REPORT
SUFFERING FROM COGNITIVE PROBLEMS
AFTER CHEMOTHERAPY. BUT, AS SOPHIA
AULD DISCOVERS, NEW RESEARCH
INDICATES A COMMON OVER-THE-
COUNTER DRUG MIGHT BE OF SOME HELP
Like so-called ‘baby brain’ some have wondered if it’s a real thing
cognitive
impairment
is one of the
key factors
that inhibits
people’s ability
to get back
to workbe informed
be nourished
simply be
be energised
be inspired