Chemo Brain

“So cancer is not done when cancer is gone!” What does that really mean? It can mean many things as far as collateral damage to your life and body, both physically and emotionally. One prominent issue many people battle is “Chemo Brain”. 

By clinical definition, chemo brain is defined as “a cognitive impairment sometimes referred to as chemo fog that occurs before , during, and after cancer treatments, including radiation, surgery, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy.”

The symptoms range from short-term verbal and visual memory loss, reading comprehension, decrease in ability to concentrate, multi-tasking, and lack of attention to details. It can also affect organizational instincts and inability to perform ones job or manage family responsibilities. You may also experience fatigue, thinking slower and take longer to finish normal tasks. Sometimes sleep apnea occurs as well depression. Great, we are already depressed because we have cancer, now we can get more depressed from chemo brain. Go figure! 

 Oh and guess what? An older brain is supposedly more vulnerable and at a higher risk of having chemo brain. Shocking! What are you really saying here? I am old so I may have more difficulty. Seems reasonable to me. Here we go again on age discrimination!  

According to numerous clinical studies, “seventy percent of patients notice cognitive difficulties from chemotherapy.” Of these patients, the majority will get better within six to nine months, but some may experience issues much longer, up to years later.  Approximately 30 percent of cancer patients are unable to go back to work after eighteen months. Some lose or change their jobs.  Here goes the opportunity for a “’Redneck Retirement” aka, win the lottery!  Unfortunately, many companies do not provide enough rehabilitation programs. Since this is happening every day, we need to make everyone aware that this is real. It needs to be studied, and we have to find a cure for this. It is bad enough not to have a cure for many cancers, now we have no cure for the side effects that we experience.

Most of us that experience this, just want a quick prescription to make this all go away. Well unfortunately, that is not happening. When you hear things like, “it takes time, just ride it out”, certainly does not help. So buckle up!

Therefore, who do we go to, who do we see to help us through this? Well many people say to see a neuropsychologist. You can add this one to my list of “ist” from my former blog. Alternatively, do we try to do it on our own using computer programs and games like Lumosity in order to keep your brain active?  I do not know about you but my brain is very active trying to figure this stuff out!

Potential Tips and Treatments for Managing Chemo Brain

1. Use more caffeine since it tends to stimulate your brain and improve cognitive function. Super great! It is not enough that I am on steroids that make me shake, now I need to have a couple more triple macchiatos’. Bad idea unless we are making martinis, shaken, not stirred. Please refer to my blog on Devil is in the Dex.
2. Try Sudoku or other puzzles. I have a puzzle every quarter in my business life. It is called, a forecast! Then there is the compensation program that is reinvented every quarter to explain to my team of sales folks of how they are paid. No need for puzzles here. Besides Amazon is out of puzzles in COVID-19!
3. Avoid fatigue! Really. I think chemo patients are already exhausted from the lack of sleep from the steroids as previously mentioned not needing additional caffeine! We are also plain ass tired from the poison running through our veins. We are tired, the minute we get the hell out of bed!
4. Keep a detailed calendar. Set Alarms as reminders.  Most of us have a calendar since we are constantly going to different doctors’ appointments or treatments. Should we set an alarm to remember to set an alarm for the appointments? Maybe I will just put a huge clock around my neck like Flava Flave!
5. Put a tray or basket at the front door to put keys, cell phone, purse etc. This may be a good idea. I personally put my keys in the same place in the kitchen every day. My purse is always in my office and my cell phones are glued to my body. This means every time I am on line shopping I have to go to the front door to get my wallet out of my purse? A better idea is to get a brightly colored Longchamp, like orange. You will have no problems seeing it. My daughter gave me one. I never lose it.
6. Some people suggest setting alarms while cooking. Hmm, to quote my all-time favorite character, Moira from Shitts Creek, “David, what does burn smell like?” If you cannot remember that you are cooking, perhaps someone should tell you to get the hell out of the kitchen permanently. On the other hand, it might be time to call and up the home insurance.
7. Use post it notes! Be sure to put them in the places that you can see well. I don’t know about you but I’m still Margo aka Alice!” Butterflies are not needed as of yet. If you haven’t seen the movie, “Still Alice”, you should. It will explain this completely.  I do not have progressive Alzheimer’s. I have chemo brain! 
8. Talk to yourself. Rehearsing things may help. Great, now you can’t remember and you will be talking to yourself so now people won’t question your stability at all! It may depend if you actually answer yourself.
9. Ask for assistance from co-workers. Possibly re-training you on things you have forgotten to do. Also, set alarms for you for your important meetings that require your participation.  Really? Can you say, “” you are fired for incompetency!” Maybe not go back to work until you can do everything required.
10. Stay away from poisonous or toxic environments, including smog!  So I guess traveling to California, several foreign countries and any old building with asbestos is out of the question. Darn, I guess I will have to cancel my exploration of the city buildings looking for lead to lick off the window!
11. Getting Lost? Use GPS apps like WAZE, This may be the only one I agree with. Nobody messes with WAZE! It has saved me numerous times including getting out of delayed accident traffic.
12. Be open with friends and family about your situation. Heck, I am their constant entertainment. I make up words. Like the other day, I meant to say Batman and it came out Batwayman. I saw a police officer pulling someone over for speeding. I said, “Oh, Danny Law just got someone for speeding. My husband calmly said, “Oh that must be Johnny Law’s cousin, Danny!” 
13. Exercise, such as Zumba, aerobics, running, dancing or cycling. Really, I can walk, but I would most certainly pee my pants doing the rest!

My Suggestions in Fighting Chemo Brain

1. Retail therapy: Shop online. You won’t remember what you have bought. Every day can be like Christmas. You never know what you are going to get. This is an entire new “ist”. Neuroretailtherapist!
2. Laugh at yourself: The other day I read a billboard that I swear said, “Curves Saves Lives!””. So actually it said,”Cures Save Lives!” Nothing to do but laugh and share with my family and friends. Thank goodness, my friends finish my sentences for me when I fail to come up with the proper words.
3. Hire a professional Scribe and or Professional Speaker: A scribe can follow you around and write everything down so you remember. A professional speaker can talk for you. Sounds good right? I wonder what they cost.
4. Reach out to other survivors: You won’t feel alone. Many good groups on Facebook to share things.
5. Make sure you have family members that acutely pay attention to what you are wearing prior to leaving the house. I may have had clothes on inside out a few times!
6. When all else fails, Gin Up!  You can always blame a cocktail for the lack of remembering and use of odd words.

Best,
Cathy