New hope for CHEMO BRAIN
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 WORK
When 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
