"Chemo brain" refers to the decreased cognitive function experienced by many patients (both men and women) who have undergone chemotherapy. People who have “chemo-brain” may find themselves unable to concentrate on their work, or unable to juggle multiple tasks. Some find they don’t remember things as well as they used to.
After years of being dismissed as a figment of patients’ imaginations or as a result of anxiety or depression, “chemo brain” is beginning to be taken seriously by cancer doctors and researchers.
Most women find their “chemo-brain” goes away 6 months to a year after treatment ends, but others are not so lucky. Some continue to experience memory loss and difficulty managing multiple tasks several years after treatment. Researchers have yet to determine the exact cause of this condition and why it is temporary in some women and permanent in others.
Women learning to live with “chemo-brain” have found that cutting back on tasks at work, as well as making lists and using an electronic organizer help jog their memories have helped them adjust. Short-term memory strengthening exercises are also beneficial.
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