Cancer Related Brain Fog: How do you cope with it?

Posted by Laurie, Volunteer Mentor @roch, Dec 4, 2019

I attended an Empowered to Live Well Session on Cancer-Related Brain Fog at Rochester Cancer Education Center yesterday. Very interesting. I think the most important fact I learned is that it is a real thing, it is not just me. This condition is called many things: chemo fog, chemo brain, cancer-related cognitive impairment or cognitive dysfunction.

I copied the following from Connect Cancer Education page that suggesting following sites for additional information:

Both http://www.mayoclinic.org and http://www.cancer.org have information on Chemo Brain including signs, symptoms, questions to ask your doctor, and more.

Laurie

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Cancer: Managing Symptoms Support Group.

@merpreb

@garry327garry327- Welcome to Mayo Connect Garry. Brain fog from chemo or immunotherapy is very difficult to deal with. At first, with my chemo, I thought that I was becoming loony but read up on it and realized that it's a very "normal" symptom. Even some anti depressives cause mental fog, loss of memory. It usually fades away after you stop the medicine that causes it over a period of time. I hated my fog. Fortunately I had have a very understanding support group.
Otherwise how are yo feeling?

https://www.curetoday.com/publications/canadian-edition/2019/summer-2019/out-of-the-haze-of-chemo-brain
https://www.webmd.com/cancer/ease-cancer-brain-fog

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Thanks for link, but to work I had to remove the #1 from end of URL.

This one works:
https://www.curetoday.com/publications/Canadian-Edition/2019/summer-2019/out-of-the-haze-of-chemo-brain

Also, the article links to another great reference:
https://www.uhn.ca/PatientsFamilies/Health_Information/Health_Topics/Documents/Cancer_Related_Brain_Fog.pdf

Laurie

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@merpreb @roch
Such a good article on the subject of chemo-brain... with lots of other good resources, as well. Many thanks!

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@elizm

@colleenyoung
Brain fog is a humiliation, as we all, I imagine, had previously considered ourselves as competent, independent agents of our lives. Now, suddenly, and for example, we mix up dates and times on the calendar or completely forget them, despite our best efforts, or find ourselves getting anxious when something goes awry (like my furnace quitting the night before Thanksgiving....) or buying completely inappropriate light bulbs when I otherwise would know better, etc. I also have little memory about things which happened during and the first year or so before and after chemo.

I keep two calendars... a master at home and an abbreviated one in my purse... and use lots of post-it notes, but sometimes it just doesn't help. I am getting used to returning inappropriate merchandise like the light bulbs or the garden lights timer... that kind of thing. But most of all, I try to get my friends used to the fact that I struggle with the calendar, although I notice that they just don't understand. Their assumption is that chemo brain, like chemo treatments, should be over by now (two years out). I certainly wish that was the case!

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Is it any better for you yet?

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@onehipchick58

Is it any better for you yet?

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@onehipchick58
Yes, I think it is a better. I still have "my days" when I could kick myself for forgetting something, etc., but overall, I feel as though I'm experiencing improvement. Is it because I'm 3-1/2 years out from chemo? Because I'm on a less disruptive AI/SERM now? Who knows... but at least I feel less humiliated by my thinking.

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@colleenyoung

Oh dear, @davidsalchow, you're quite right. I did simply link back to the discussion. I guess that's one sly way to keep people in the conversation, right? Here's the article from Mayo Clinic with tips on how to manage it:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chemo-brain/symptoms-causes/syc-20351060

David, what is your interest or experience with chemo brain/brain fog?

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This was very helpful for me...

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Would like to know of any supplements or recommendations to help with memory problems since starting Tamoxifen. Thanks!

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@auksst

Would like to know of any supplements or recommendations to help with memory problems since starting Tamoxifen. Thanks!

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Hi Auksst, I moved your message to this existing discussion called "Cancer Related Brain Fog: How do you cope with it?" where fellow members like @roch @lisman1408 @cfacarol @elizm @mjay @trixie1313 and others have shared their tips.

Brain fog is frustrating to say the least. How long have you been taking tamoxifen?

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My daughter has been on it for 6 weeks.

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Does chemo fog/brain go away over time?

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