Chemo Brain

http://www.hopkinsbreastcenter.org/artemis/200806/4.html

Here is a link from JOhns Hopkins re how Chemo wrecks the brain.

MMS. 

Good Evening MMS;

Interesting article.

But we've been telling them for years that we have trouble with mental accuracy during chemo. At least now there's scientific proof.

Take care;

Kevin

Thanks for sharing. Chemo brain is no joke.

Mary Ann

Would Thalomide 100mg cause chemo brain because I am having a very difficult time remembering things these days? It is also taking me longer to formulate my thoughts into words.  I just started my 2nd cycle of Thalomide.

Thanks for any input.  Cindy

I would say yes as after all it is chemotherapy....MMS

On 7/17/2009 lawcynthia wrote:

Would Thalomide 100mg cause chemo brain because I am having a very difficult time remembering things these days? It is also taking me longer to formulate my thoughts into words.  I just started my 2nd cycle of Thalomide.

 

Thanks for any input.  Cindy

Hi LawCynthia,

 I would say it's possible, yes. But are you on anything else with it?

My dad is on daily Thalidomide 100, and i now see him not remembering things as well, and getting a little mixed up on occassion. But he's also on Coumadin b/c of the Thal, so i'm blaming that as well. (although they will tell you there's no real side effects, but that's true baloney). I dont think it's totally the thalidomide, per se, i think it's a combination of all the drugs / treatments.

For you, though... sounds like you've only been on the Thal for a month, so i'm not sure that side effects would happen that quickly. It does make you tired though - are you finding that? With the Thal for my dad, i noticed that the side effects didn't really happen / kick in until about after the 2nd  or 3rd month (and it took 3 months for it to start working). He was fine, peepy, the same in the beginning but now after about 3 or 4 months on it, he's saying a lot that he feels 'tired'.

Best of luck & let us know how you do.

Deb Jr.

From Anna,

Hi all, Dad's Dr. told him about Chemo Brain a long time ago.  Mom would tease him about it then they found out it was true and real.

Your friend,

Anna

From Anna,

Hi Windy, Making light of it is the best way to handle it.

Your friend,

Anna

On 7/19/2009 Windymoose50 wrote:

I just had breast cancer support group the other night and several are years out and still have chemo brain..  Seems it doesn't always go away...My husband and I just make light of it and I write lot's of notes and seem to get by fairly well..

Thanks MMS for the link.  I'm glad that something is in print and that the study is happening regarding chemo-brain.  It's important for us to realize this and learn a new path of thinking, so that we can fight chemo-brain.

Chemo-brain;  I'm still having some 'short term' memory loss.  I've even losted the relationship of my sister because of it.  How do we deal with friends and family who 'just don't understand'.  I'm to the point that I don't mention that I have cancer to anyone except to those on this site -  because it seems that if you mention it, you can instantly see the change in the other persons  demeanor, the way they talk with you changes, the way the treat you.  It's like now they aren't exchanging conversation with the same person that they were before they learned you have cancer.   Take my my neighbor, she means well, but when I'm out doing normal things like watering my plants, getting in the trash recepticles, she says something like "should you be doing that?" People don't treat me like they did before I had cancer and I miss that.   How do we deal now?

Chem-brain;   I've taken SCT heavy chemo drugs in the past, but even Rev, Dex, Thal, Vel, and the other daily or weekly drugs that we take are chemo drugs.  They all slow and/or change our brain, so we have to stay aware of this and try to make adjustments if we can.  Making notes helps and even emails can take you back to what was said or done - if you can remember that you made a note or sent and email, LOL....oh what fun, lol.  Take it easy. 

marsbars