Sisters
I have written about “chemo brain” a number of times, and
even tried to con you into supporting basic research on the subject through “crowd
sourcing”. The NCI recently reported on
a substantial study of chemo brain (they use a more dignified term, of course)
in women who have been treated for breast cancer. They found that it is real, and can result
from all kinds of treatment, not merely chemotherapy. Even anxiety plays a role. As you know, not all BRCA patients experience
the problem, and of those who do, some get over it quickly whereas for others
it is a lifelong problem. You will not
be surprised to learn that differences in genetics play a role, nor will you be
surprised to learn that the more the problem is studied, the more complicated
it becomes.
Here is the article.
It is long, but easy going.
This work was done at Sloan Kettering, in NYC. Rather than "chemo brain" the authors probably would prefer "neurocognitive deficiency" Chem brain is easier to spell.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if anyone has considered/researched alternative therapy (acupuncture, etc.), pre/post chemo for the symptoms of chemo brain. Another avenue of research for you, Myrl.
ReplyDeleteNow this, surely, is an unnecessary addition of insult to injury! Sometimes I think Nature has it in for us.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2018/chemobrain-cancer-survivors-alzheimers-gene?cid=eb_govdel