Chemotherapy for breast cancer causing memory loss?

[shootingstar]

More research, understanding needed on chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer which could causes often, memory loss.


But female breast-cancer survivors make up the largest population of cancer survivors — of the 11.4 million cancer survivors in the United States alone, 23 per cent, or 2.6 million women, are breast-cancer survivors, Subramanian and colleagues reported in a recently published study.
"This is a more vulnerable population," she says. "Women who wind up having chemobrain are not able to perform as well at their jobs.


http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Researchers+study+possible+links+between+chemotherapy+memory+loss/2980131/story.html#ixzz0myB3615g


Up to now, personally I've only know 3 face-to-face people who have had breast cancer:
my aunt-she was diagnosed in her mid-80's. But she died from a heart condidtion.

a cyclist- she was active on local cycling advocacy matters. She was diagnosed just last year.

a sister of a friend who died from breast cancer, in her late 40's. (latter who I used to be a very close friend. But we parted ways years before.)

[OakLeaf]

I would say that much, much more understanding is needed of ALL the ramifications of cancer treatment.

The media and the medical establishment so often represent cancer cases as "cured." So when a woman is cancer-free for a certain period of time, she no longer has the support from friends and family that she so desperately needs.

The fact that information about the so-called "side effects" is so hard to find also, I think, makes people rush into treatment decisions without fully understanding the consequences.

"Chemo brain" for sure. A 40-50% chance of chronic pain and a 40-50% chance of lymphedema. Heart and lung damage from radiation and chemotherapy. Loss of sensation in a major erogenous zone. If the woman is married, a better than 20% chance that her husband (http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/33832513/?ns=health-cancer) will leave her (!). Never mind the horrific and permanent physical scarring of the body part that defines a woman in the popular imagination and so, inescapably, to at least some extent in her own mind.

People who've never been touched by cancer need to understand that a cancer diagnosis is a lifelong struggle, even if the cancer itself never recurs after the initial treatment.

[shootingstar]

The fact that information about the so-called "side effects" is so hard to find also, I think, makes people rush into treatment decisions without fully understanding the consequences.

This is a tough one when a patient is faced with a no-win situation when s/he have been diagnosed negatively with cancerous growth. At times, it can become situation of saving one's life, extending ones' life with either minor or signifcant risk of quality of life issues, particularily when the cancer is abit beyond early stages.

[ZooZoo]

This is a tough one when a patient is faced with a no-win situation when s/he have been diagnosed negatively with cancerous growth. At times, it can become situation of saving one's life, extending ones' life with either minor or significant risk of quality of life issues, particularily when the cancer is a bit beyond early stages.

I agree. It's not an easy decision. While I'm glad I made the decision for chemo, etc., (I'm three years breast cancer free), I hated the side effects that went with it, some of which still linger even now.

[sundial]

Mother was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and had a lumpectomy and received radiation treatment. She still has disfigurement from the lumpectomy and sensitive skin at the sight of the radiation. :o On a good note: she's still cancer free. :)

[ny biker]

I would say that much, much more understanding is needed of ALL the ramifications of cancer treatment.

The media and the medical establishment so often represent cancer cases as "cured." So when a woman is cancer-free for a certain period of time, she no longer has the support from friends and family that she so desperately needs.

The fact that information about the so-called "side effects" is so hard to find also, I think, makes people rush into treatment decisions without fully understanding the consequences.

"Chemo brain" for sure. A 40-50% chance of chronic pain and a 40-50% chance of lymphedema. Heart and lung damage from radiation and chemotherapy. Loss of sensation in a major erogenous zone. If the woman is married, a better than 20% chance that her husband (http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/33832513/?ns=health-cancer) will leave her (!). Never mind the horrific and permanent physical scarring of the body part that defines a woman in the popular imagination and so, inescapably, to at least some extent in her own mind.

People who've never been touched by cancer need to understand that a cancer diagnosis is a lifelong struggle, even if the cancer itself never recurs after the initial treatment.


Actually, this is exactly why Lance Armstrong started his foundation. To help people as they go through treatment and beyond. He found no support for survivors, so he tried to create a place for it.

[shootingstar]

I agree. It's not an easy decision. While I'm glad I made the decision for chemo, etc., (I'm three years breast cancer free), I hated the side effects that went with it, some of which still linger even now.

Zoozoo, if you want to answer: What are the side effects that still linger with you?

[ZooZoo]

Zoozoo, if you want to answer: What are the side effects that still linger with you?

My nails and hair have never been the same. Nails are very brittle and have ridges (I had fairly nice nails before chemo). Hair is thinner. The breast that had the cancer is misshapen after the lumpectomy of course, but the areola is much lighter after the radiation. I burned and peeled, even with lotions, aleo, etc. The only good note for that was that I peeled so much the scar from surgery disappeared.