SURVIVORSHIP IN CANCER - International Waldenstrom's ...

Mission Statement:
To offer mutual support and encouragement to the Waldenstrom's
macroglobulinemia community and others with an interest in the disease.
To provide information and educational programs that address patients' concerns.
To promote and support research leading to better treatments and, ultimately, a cure.
Survivorship in Cancer, cont. from page 24
In patients suffering from chemo brain, newer studies using
objective memory tests commonly reveal a decreased ability
to learn new things, a marked increase in time required to
recall prior information (executive function), as well as
attention and concentration difficulties.
Treatment and coping with chemo brain
There are no known effective ways to prevent chemo brain
at this time. For many cancer patients, chemotherapy
treatments will result in cognitive difficulties. Researchers
are actively evaluating treatment options that may protect
the brain during and after chemotherapy. The newer targeted
therapies that selectively focus on the cancer cells and spare
normal brain and nerve cells may hold promise. Some
researchers have speculated that genetic susceptibility for
chemo brain may exist. Certain genes linked to Alzheimer’s
disease may predispose the cancer patient to increased risk
of chemo brain. Medications now used for the treatment of
depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),
Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia may one day be used as
potential treatments for chronic long-term chemo brain.
In the interim, what can be done if a patient is experiencing
chemo brain? Researchers who have studied memory suggest
techniques such as avoiding distraction, using a daily planner,
keeping a journal, posting reminders, setting up and following
routines and keeping the same daily schedule, exercising
your memory by doing crosswords or playing a musical
instrument for example, managing stress with meditation and
other techniques, getting enough rest and sleep, exercising on
a regular basis, eating healthy, and finally trying not to obsess
on how chemo brain symptoms are interfering with normal
daily activity.
Chemo brain is but one of the many survivorship issues
facing cancer patients. Accepting the problem and being able
to laugh about things one cannot control may sometimes be
the most successful coping mechanism of all.