Cancer Patients Can Get ‘Chemo Brain'; Treatment Available

BOSTON (CBS) – Sixty-nine-year-old Susan Harden began her battle with breast cancer six years ago. “I had surgery,” explains Susan, “And that was followed by two different rounds of chemotherapy, followed by radiation.” Soon after her first round of chemo, Susan became confused. The former science teacher, quick-witted all her life, all of a sudden couldn’t remember how to do simple tasks. “I walked into the bathroom,” she says, ”I took my toothbrush in my hand, and I couldn’t figure out what to do next.” Susan went months without answers but then happened to mention her symptoms to a nurse. “She said you have chemo brain,” explains Susan. “She said you have a difficult time trying to figure out paper or plastic when you go to the supermarket. And I went are you kidding me? It’s a word?” Dr. Montie Meyer, a psychiatrist at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, says it does seem that people who have had chemotherapy for cancer are more at risk. She runs a small clinic for patients dealing with chemo brain and has treated Susan for it. Dr. Meyer says up to sixty percent of patients undergoing treatment for all types of cancers can develop chemo brain to some degree. It can last for months, sometimes years. Dr. Meyer says brain exercises can help. “If you put yourself on a schedule and doing those exercises half hour 2-3 times a week,” explains Dr. Meyer, “You really can make a difference.” Susan uses a computer app called Lumo...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health Local News Seen On WBZ-TV Syndicated Local Watch Listen CBS Boston Dr. Mallika Marshall WBZ TV Source Type: news