When people hear the word cancer, they often think of surgeries, chemotherapy, or radiation. What they do not always hear about is the silent struggle that can follow long after treatment ends. One of those struggles is cognitive dysfunction, often called “chemo brain.”
What Is Cognitive Dysfunction?
Cognitive dysfunction refers to changes in memory, attention, processing speed, and decision-making. Many survivors describe it as feeling like their brain is in a fog. They may forget simple things, lose track of conversations, or find it harder to concentrate at work or school. Changes can show up before, during, and after treatment.
Research suggests that up to 75 percent of people receiving chemotherapy experience cognitive changes during treatment, and about 35 percent report ongoing issues months or even years after treatment ends. These changes are not imagined. They are real and can deeply affect daily life.
Why Does It Happen?
The causes are complex. Chemotherapy is one factor, but not the only one. Hormone therapy, radiation, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disruption, and even the cancer itself can contribute.
For me, twelve rounds of chemotherapy left me exhausted. What caught me off guard was the mental fog. I was someone who thrived on multitasking and staying organized, but suddenly details slipped through my fingers. That was frightening, and it reminded me that healing is not only physical. It is also mental and emotional.
How Can It Be Prevented or Managed?
There is no single way to prevent cognitive dysfunction, but there are strategies that can help:
- Exercise: Regular physical activity supports brain health.
- Mental stimulation: Reading, puzzles, coloring, or learning something new can sharpen focus.
- Sleep and rest: Quality sleep restores brain function.
- Stress management: Techniques like meditation, prayer, or breathing exercises help calm the mind.
- Professional support: Occupational or cognitive therapy can provide practical tools to cope.
Most of all, it is important for survivors to give themselves grace while learning to adapt.
The Impact on Survivorship
Cognitive dysfunction does not just affect memory. It affects identity, confidence, and relationships. Survivors who once spoke with ease in boardrooms may pause to find words. Parents may miss a school reminder or double-book appointments.
As a wife, mother, professional, and advocate, I have felt the weight of these changes. Completing chemotherapy, undergoing a double mastectomy, entering remission, and later reconstructive surgery showed me that survivorship is not about perfection. It is about progress, compassion, and resilience.
Why Advocacy Matters
Survivorship is about more than being cancer-free. It is about living fully with resources and support. The American Cancer Society understands this. Through Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and Champions of Hope, survivors are uplifted, research is funded, and community programs are expanded. These initiatives bring attention to hidden struggles like cognitive dysfunction and create hope for a better tomorrow.
How You Can Help
Your support fuels lifesaving research, community education, and survivorship programs. By giving today, you stand with me and countless others who continue to navigate life after cancer.
👉 Donate here: https://mobileacs.org/icViuc
Cognitive dysfunction may linger, but together we can make sure hope shines brighter. Survivorship is a new chapter, and with your support, that chapter can be filled with compassion, healing, and solutions.
Sources
- American Cancer Society. Changes in Memory, Thinking, and Focus (Chemo Brain).
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/side-effects/changes-in-mood-or-thinking/chemo-brain.html - National Cancer Institute. Memory or Concentration Problems and Cancer Treatment.
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/memory - Breastcancer.org. What Is Chemo Brain? Symptoms, Causes, and More.
https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment-side-effects/chemo-brain - Mayo Clinic. Chemo Brain — Symptoms and Causes.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chemo-brain/symptoms-causes/syc-20351060 - National Cancer Institute. Physical Activity May Lessen the Effects of Chemo Brain, Study Finds.
https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2021/physical-activity-cognitive-function
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