An interesting article that you should be able to find by pasting the phrase below into google:
Chemo May Not Affect Memory in Breast Cancer Patients
Hi Christine - lovely to see you posting again - have missed your intellectual take on our multi factorial problems.
I will look at the link tomorrow, too late tonight as I have to be up early tomorrow for blood tests.
I am convinced, before reading the article, that chemo has affected my memory - not just the 4 months of FEC, but the 7 yrs I have been on methotrexate chemo. Although there is no Alzheimers in my immediate family (although everyone of my father’s 7 siblings died of some kind of cancer, as he did, and my twin brother), my cousin, same age as me, got Alzheimer’s at 46 yrs old and died in a fire at her home. She was my father’s sister’s child, so don’t think the genetic line really affects me, but I do worry when I can’t find the word I want …always been so articulate, that I get very embarrassed now when I can’t find the word I am searching for. I think my friends think I have gone senile.
So good to see you posting again,
Hugs,
Liz.
Interesting !!!
Let me add my 2p’s worth. I’ve noticed I sometimes get muddled and say something other than the word I was looking for. A bit worrying as I’ve never had chemo!!! So, what am I doing here?! Well, I had a secondary dx (spread to bones) + have been taking Letrozole for 18 months. Uncommon side effects mentioned on leaflet include memory impairment! Hmm, that’s my excuse… Also I noticed increase in mood swings since my dx, but I am inclined to agree with the article, that the psychological stress of having cancer might cause this.
Hi Christine
Yes interesting article. I have read others though where there does seem a link between the chemical impact of chemo and cognitive function. Perhaps its a bit of both.
After AC and taxotere for primary bc my concentration and memory were definintely much worse though I think both improved as time passed from treatment. But since recurrence a year ago and being on chemo ever since both are really bad again. Some of it is definitely because I feel in a permanent state of anxiety about the future, but I do intuitively feel that its the impact of the drugs too (intuitive feeling is not evidence know!) These days I even find it hard to concentrate on a good book which is awful cause I love reading.
Jane
Hi Jane
What chemo are you on???
I can relate with you about the anxiety, my head feels in the shed at times
Love Mel x
Hi Mel. I was on vinorilbine and xeloda last year for 6 cycles then xeloda for 3 more cycles. Now on fifth cycle of carboplatin and gemzar, though only have one dose of gemzar ecah 3 weeks, rather than two as I did for first three cycles.
While the side effects of these chemos are not as acute as either AC or taxotere I feel pretty permanently weary…
How about you?
Jane
Hi Jane
I finished tax last nov, found that hard, but at the moment I’m on herceptin only, have signed up for that lap/cep trial though just in case as I have skin mets on reconstructive breast, onc seems to think although skin mets have returned, the herceptin is keeping it contained. ( I wonder)
Why were you on vinorilbine and xeloda for ? If u don’t mind me asking. And now carboplatin and gemzar. (the names get worse don’t they I can’t even say half of them)
I feel ok but still can’t get my head round not being curable!!
love Mel x
I found it almost impossible to concentrate on anything whilst going through the stress of the ghastly waiting period for results and treatment to start. Since starting chemo have found concentation is returning and can once again enjoy reading .But then I’m only at the beginning of chemo…mind you I couldn,t find the word for shower gel the other day when I was in chemist. A bit embarrassing when assistant asked me what I was looking for and had to say ‘the stuff you use in the shower’
Trish
Oh Trish - snap! I went into Helsinki’s ‘Harrods’ today with a list of things I want to have ready for the start of chemo: baby-soft toothbrush, alcohol-free mouthwash, dark nail polish, head shaver, manuka honey, (in yer dreams in Helsinki) - all sorts of things that I don’t usually buy, and it seemed easier to try & do it at the same time in a big department store. I wandered lonely as a cloud for a while in the sort-of ‘thing’ department and then asked an assistant about anti-bacterial stuff for hands. I had no idea what to say. Stuff to use without water and then stuff to use when washing hands at home! Quite snappy I was. And this is Finland where the English-language skills of shop staff are now obviously better than mine.
I KNOW I’ve lost a few plots since being diagnosed. I sometimes don’t hear what people say because I’m busy inside my head with a dialog about black versus dark red nail polish, or should I have my dad over from the UK for my first chemo session as OH will be in Argentina. I dreamed a good friend of ours was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a couple of nights ago and had to ask the OH if this was true - he was horrified. Y’gotta laugh. I don’t even START chemo for another five days.
Not that I’ve ever been particularly on the ball.