Chemotherapy induced cognitive impairment, otherwise known in colloquial terms chemo brain or chemo fog, is now a widely researched topic stemming from the increased utilization of chemotherapy in patients suffering from cancer. While it is known that certain types of cancers are treated with specific types of chemotherapy drugs or an array of drugs, no two cancers are alike. For example, someone that has been diagnosed with a glandular type of cancer would receive drug X, but another patient with the same type of cancer could receive drug Y. The difference between the two patients relies on a myriad of other outlying factors that are based on the patient’s levels of tolerance. The drug itself is designed to react and eventually kill the fast growing cancer cells. Unfortunately, the cancer cells are not the only ones to feel this effect. Commonly understood “collateral damage” also takes place in the forms of alopecia (hair loss), nausea, vomiting, immunologic complications (low white blood cell count), loss of bone density and so forth. These types of physical ailments are almost always discussed during the “Pretreatment” counseling and are often relieved by other combinations of drugs. The one ailment that a patient is rarely educated on is the potential of long-term cognitive impairment induced by chemotherapy.
According to the American Cancer Society (American Cancer Society, 2014), approximately 1.6 million new patients will be diagnosed with cancer in 2014. Unfortunately, roughly 1:2 men and 1:3 women will suffer the sting of cancer. During a workshop held in Alberta, Canada in 2003, data gathered from one group of oncologists reveled that 21 out of 28 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer and were treated ...
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Over the past decade breast cancer has become one of the most predominant diseases in the United States. Breast cancer starts out as a malignant tumor in the tissues of the breast which is formed from the uncontrolled growth of abnormal breast cells. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, but it can also appear in men. (Stephan, 2010)
Susan G. Komen for the Cure, (2009). Radiation Therapy and Side Effects. Susan G. Koman for the Cure. Retrieved from:
Throughout the duration of research paper, the researcher was able to receive first-hand testimony from a breast cancer survivor via email. The interview included questions such as: (1) the year and stage the breast cancer was diagnosed; (2) the level of awareness prior to diagnosis; (3) treatments used to combat cancer (chemotherapy, radiation or a combination of both); (4) the present condition of the breast cancer; and (5) the treatment, prevention, or examinations used to keep breast cancer in remission. The interviewee (remains nameless) was diagnosed on July 5, 2002 at Jefferson Hospital from a yearly mammogram. Her breast cancer was diagnosed in stage I, less than 1 mm in diameter (Office of Women’s Health n.d). She exclaimed she was very aware of the heredity risk in her family because of previous family members diagnosed with breast cancer. She received two lumpectomies, following a port was placed in her arm for easier access to her vein during chemotherapy. She received four rounds of chemotherapy, each spaced out by three weeks; she also underwent six weeks of r...
CHARACTERISTICS AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DEMENTIA. (2002). In Encyclopedia of the Human Brain. Retrieved from https://hodges.idm.oclc.org/login?
There are many risks that affect breast cancer. One of the reasons it is more common, is because we have better medical equipment that detects breast cancer at an earlier stage than before. An estimated 192,370 new cases of breast cancer will occu...
According to Breast Cancer Statistics, Breast cancer usually occurs in women between the ages of 35 and 65, even though fifty percent of all breast cancer is of women sixty-five and older (Breast Cancer Statistics, 2008). Although the cause of cancer is unknown, there are factors that increase the chances of getting it. These facto...
According to SEER Statistics, 23,380 people are estimated to get a brain or nervous system cancer diagnosis. Out of those people, 14,320 people are estimated to die from their brain or nervous system cancer diagnosis (National Cancer Institute). Cancer is a type of dangerous tumor, or a buildup of extra cells that form a mass of tissue, that can be life threatening (National Cancer Institute). The term for a tumor that is cancerous is a malignat tumor, whereas a benign tumor does not contain cancer cells (National Cancer Institute). According to the National Cancer Institute, the causes of brain cancer are unknown, but risk factors include family history and excessive radiaton exposure. Although they are not always due to a brain tumor, comon symptoms include headaches, nausea, speech, hearing, vision, and mood changes, problems with balance and mamories, seizures, and numbness in arms and legs (National Cancer Institute). MRI and CT scans as well as surgical biposies (or the removal of part of the tumor to be examined) are used to diagnose brain cancer (National Cancer Institute). Different types of treatment options include radiation therapy, surgery to remove the tumor, and chemotherapy. According to Charles Davis, MD, PhD and Nitin Tandon, MD of WebMD.com, chemotherapy is “ the use of powerful drugs to kill tumor cells”. There are a few different types of chemotherapy, but all of which bring out the same kinds of side effects. Although the physical side effects of chemotherapy are commonly known, few people know of the emotional toll chemotherapy can take on a patient and his or her family as they go though this process.
Understanding how the brain processes and stores memories has important implication. Dementia is a liberal term that refers to the decline and impairment of speech communication, abstract thought, memory and other cognitive functions. This cognitive disruption occurs to such an extent that they interfere with daily activities Dementia is not a disease itself. Instead, it depicts it describes a group of symptoms that frequently accompanies a disease or a condition. Although, it might initially seem disturbing to consider that half of the adult population will experience the symptoms of a mental disorder. Psychological symptoms without becoming completely debilitated and needing professional intervention most people clearly seem to manage
Cummings, Jeffrey L., Cole, Greg. “Alzheimer Disease.” Journal of the American Medical Association. May 2002: 287-18. Health Source. EBSCOhost. Utica College Lib. 15 Apr 2005. .
Cognitive problems occur when a person has trouble processing information. This includes mental tasks related to attention span, thinking, and short-term memory. Cognitive disorders often begin subtly but progress until they significantly impede the affected individual’s quality of life. It is on record that about 75% of people with cancer experience cognitive problems during treatment. (Cancer Treatment, December, 2016). And 35% have issues that continue for months after finishing treatment. (Cancer Treatment, December, 2016). These problems vary in severity and often make it hard to complete daily activities. Some of the symptoms of cognitive problems are; trouble concentrating, focusing, or paying attention, mental fog or disorientation, Difficulty with spatial orientation, memory loss or difficulty remembering things, especially names, dates, or phone numbers, problems with understanding, difficulties with judgment and reasoning, impaired math, organizational, and language skills ( this includes tasks such as not being able to organize thoughts, find the right word, or balance a checkbook), Problems multitasking, processing information slower, Behavioral and emotional changes such as irrational behavior, mood swings, inappropriate anger or crying, and socially inappropriate behavior and severe confusion. The level of these symptoms often depends on the person’s age, stress level, history of depression or anxiety,
"Focus group reflections on the current and future state of cognitive assessment tools in geriatric health care." Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, vol. 11, 2015, p. 1455+. Academic OneFile,
A way to tell if Brain metastases is occurring in a body is that the person will start to show symptoms headaches and seizures and will have had or have a brain tumor (de las Heras., et al., 2013). Doctors use MRIs to diagnose BM if patients are feeling these symptoms (Women's Health Weekly, 2017; Andrews, D. W., Scott, C. B., 2005). You can also tell if you check the gene signature because it BM has its own and it is 26. (Women's Health Weekly, 2017). Effects that BM can have on one’s person brain is that it could cause problems with their cognitive thinking and their memory (de las Heras., et al., 2013). Womens’s Health Weekly (2007) claims BM is going to
While chemotherapy is beneficial at curing or helping a disease such as cancer, it can has a negative effect on a person’s body too.
Dementia can be defined as a clinical syndrome that leads to progressive neurological deterioration. The patient usually presents with impairment in various cognitive abilities such as memory, language, decision making, visual spatial function, orientation and attention. Apart from cognitive impairment, patients also show signs and symptoms of impairment in personality, emotions and social behaviour. Collectively, person experience interference in work, social activities, and relationships as well as inability to perform routine activities such as driving, housekeeping, cooking among others (Kolorev 2014).
... Shimamura, A. (1995). Susceptibility to memory interference effects following frontal lobe damage: findings from tests of paired- associate learning. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 144-152.