Is short term memory loss normal for brain tumor patients?

Yes. If you go online about brain tumors, you will see this is one issue. That is why they have the patient go through Therapy sessions after surgery.

We were never offered therapy post surgery…

Nor was my husband although when we requested a psychiatric evaluation he got it. Needs ongoing, though. Must go outside Mayo for that. Waiting now.

After my brain tumor was removed the short term memory loss was obvious. 5 years post surgery and I know it has gotten better.

Hi @jennywinn, your post brings hope. It's been 5 years since your surgery, wow! May I ask what type of brain tumor you had? How are you doing today?

I am just two years post surgery and feel my short term memory is getting much worse. I had a mengioma

I had an oligodendroglioma that was diagnosed in 2005. They treated it with radiation and chemotherapy, then chemo alone (Temodar). It definitely affected my short term memory. The tumor "returned" in 2021 and again in 2023 and I was treated with chemo again. My short term memory has gotten continually worse. I'm like Dory in Finding Nemo. I qualified for disability retirement in the fall of 2024 - I'm 49. I have always needed to use mnemonic devices, and it definitely gets frustrating searching for my phone for the umpteenth time each day. I have an Occupational Therapist at Mayo and she is very helpful. Ask for a referral to them. Short term memory loss is hard, but I'm still here after 19 years!

Thank you. I get the short term memory thing! But it’s all doable and I can conquer this too!

After the meningioma removal, I had a week of intensive therapy in the stroke rehab unit, but this was because the tumor bled and I had a stroke.
My neurologist predicted that it would take 18 months for me to get back to my new normal. And that was very close.

Definitely!