Is Chemo Brain Real?
Recently I encountered a situation that was beyond my comprehension with a dear friend. With this dear friend, much appear to escape their memory, appointments with me missed and explanations were a bit out of the norm. Being aware that this associate has had chemo in the not too distance past so I began to wonder if this is their new reality. Not having a clue, I chose to believe in the possibility that this associate may have Chemo Brain indeed. Accepting this as the person’s reality made it certainly easier to deal with them and just accept the daunting behavior and just move on. Also, I made the deliberate choice to listen when chatting without any judgement whatsoever. Doing this was more for my benefit, my sanity, than this other person. True or not, chemo brain makes life livable with this person. I wasn’t really sure if this was a true phenomenon or not but accepted the profound possibility of it being real until I read an article that confirmed my hypothesis!
This morning, I read an article in the LA Times titled, “Aiming to lift mental fog after chemo” and was so blown of way that Chemo Brain is a real possibility. According to this article somewhere between 17% and 75% of patients with malignancies that at some point in their treatment for cancer reported that a mental fog has set in. It was noted that even years after their hair had grown back, the exhaustion has lifted and the medical appointments taper off, the “new normal” for these patients includes problems with concentration, work-finding, short-term memory and multitasking.
It is reported that there are roughly 15.5 million cancer survivors who have experienced mental fog after cancer treatment are probably increasing as detection, survival rates rise and lives are extended.
Note the medical establishment is at a loss why this occurs, how long it will last, and what deficit it actually causes and especially whether it could be treated or even prevented. Oncologist have no answers to date.
“Wow”, I thought this Chemo Brain is real and my assessment of my associate is dead on. Reading this article has allowed me to be more at ease and definitely more understanding when bizarre things occur from an associate or any other who may have experience chemo at some point. You know they always say, “when you know better you do better!”.
Listening to my gut feeling has again paid off. I am so thrilled that I didn’t blast this person for all the weird happenings that I encountered but remained calm and followed my gut. This article has taught me a valuable lesson and that is, “don’t judge a man/women until you have walked in their footsteps a mile.
In conclusion, Chemo Brain is real and it you experience this with another who has had chemo, just try a little tenderness, patience and understanding. Don’t judge because tomorrow it could be you. Also, try to aid anyone who appear to have Chemo Brain in assisting their cognitive ability.
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