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“Surviving” Life After Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer | Last Active: Sep 18, 2021 | Replies (60)

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@elizm

@merpreb
Chemo brain has been humiliating and humbling. The first year (2018) was the worst where I would show up for appointments, for example, either on the right day but the wrong time, or the wrong day but the right time, and sometimes the appointment just slips my mind completely. This past year, it comes and goes, and is not quite as challenging. Yes, my life is littered with Post-It notes. Although math was never a challenge for me, I found even easy calculations to stump me during the first year-and-change. Word choices can be frustrating, as can multi-tasking and a tendency toward procrastination.

I've read that chemo brain can last up to five years, however, I've noticed a lessening over time (thank goodness). My oncologist and NP have no suggestions except to keep on keeping on. (I had extensive nerve damage with chemo, so I suppose that all of this is unsurprising to them.) My personal "treatments" are exercise and reading, hoping they will help retrain what's left of my brain.

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Replies to "@merpreb Chemo brain has been humiliating and humbling. The first year (2018) was the worst where..."

@elizm- Good morning- I am sorry that I have not responded to this in a couple of days. The NE coast was hammered by a severe, hurricane like storm and we just got our power back mid afternoon, yesterday.
Exercising is one activity that has been scientifically shown to help the brain and reconnect all the loose wires that chemo can cause. I can feel it's effects if I lay off for a while and then get back to it! It's like a light bulb getting brighter! Writing is my favorite and has helped me fight PTSD and strengthened my brain! Do you think that we select activities that we are drawn to the most in our hearts as the ones that help us the most?