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• Housecall
• Alzheimer's caregiving
• Living with cancer

• January 9, 2012 5:58 p.m.

  My friends husband is going though chemo for intestinal cancer. He has had a chemo treat every other Monday since diagnosis (with a lapse last week due to an infection). For the last week, he has had the opposite of chemo brain - almost maniac behavior - rewashing towels that are clean, talking non-stop for several hours, cleaning/organizing/giving away extra food items, very short tempered with friends and family. His behavior is boarderline manic. This behavior has escalated in the last week. Anyone experience this behavior as they or a loved one have gone through treatment?

  - Norma

• November 30, 2011 4:37 p.m.

  I have chemo brain after 14 months of chrmo, but no cancer. My co-workers have made my life possible because of how kindly they have taken on my job responsibilities.The confusion is getting very bad. Thinking is a chore. There is no sleep.

  - Mary

• August 11, 2011 7:47 p.m.

  my husband was diagnosed with brain cancer as well as a brain tumor last september and underwent brain surgery,they were only able to remove 95% of the tumor due to the fact it has rooted into the brain.he has been doing chemo and radiation up until last month and went for his 1st MRI today.as a result of this long&brave journey he has got chemo brain.lose of sleep,lose of words,processing,does not drive at night,just short distances,fatigue,anxiety,frustration,depression,he takes melatonin as a sleep aid,flaxseed capsules for the brain 2 times a day,loraxapam for his anxiety in the am.we joined the cancer group and found him a buddy,which help him understand and feel not alone,it was a great asset.positive thinking and alot of rest for quit a while and alot of support from friends and family and wonderful doctors and nurses.hoping for a blessing from up above that the worst is over,now we just have to take "one day at a time" Alot of love &support,understanding,patience is the best medicine,and never give up! Bless you all,may the force b with you! xoxo

  - holly

• June 26, 2011 3:34 a.m.

  I've been in & out of chemo for CLL for 5 years(32 very long days total "in the chair")& chemo brain has been the most difficult of many difficult side effects. I was/am paranoid about altzheimers due to family history so I got tested by a neuro psychiatrist(3+ hours tests session) which revealed 96 percentile IQ BUT 12 percentile short term memory processing! Bad news! But it did rule out altzheimers! This is the only test I've known to confirm chemo brain! Does validation help? Not sure-still adapting & learning how to carry intelligent conversations & hide the "blank" spots! Major challenge!

  - Jim

• May 14, 2011 3:18 p.m.

  I was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in Feb 2010.After mastectomy/reconstruction & 8 months of treatment I feel really good apart from chemo brain.Best advice I can give is stay calm,try not to get angey or frustrated and do some brain exercises every day.Hoping to go back to College after 26 years to do an MA in September.Chemo brain is manageable-hang in there.

  - Valerie

• April 12, 2011 12:47 p.m.

  I was diagnosed last January, 2010 with Stage 2 breast cancer and I turned 50 last year.. I had a lumpectomy, went thru 5 rounds of chemo. then 6 weeks of radiation therapy. At the same time, I just became the main caregiver for my 74 yr old mother with last stages of Alzheimer's Disease. It was a hard year, I had help and started hospice for my Mom. She just passed away last month, and I have to restart my life. My point is that I have chemobrain due to all the chemo and radiation, but it seems to have gotten worse. I went a few weeks of my body rejecting the Tamoxifen, nausea, and during that time I felt my mind and memory coming back. But since November, Im adjusted to tamoxifen, and the brain fog is terrible. I don't remember the day of my Mother's funeral at all. I've asked family members if I was even there! I'm supposed to be going back to work, but I'm very worried about this fog. It's debiliting. Im on depression meds, a sleeping pill Ambien, and still don't sleep much. I have to say Chemobrain is very frustrating! I just want my brain back. I used to have such a sharp memory, quick with numbers, memory of an elephant. So this way of being is very scary.

  - Meridith

• February 8, 2011 11:31 a.m.

  If you have a Dr. who amits to "chemo brain"you are lucky,when I got my medicalo records from my oncologist ,and read them ,I was fit to be tied to say the least.He made notes as if I was crazy and denied that could be the cause. Needless to say he is no longer my Dr.When my gereral Dr. could not find what was causing the problem I started a search on computer for syntoms and with the help ofv the friend who died found the chemo brain ones which totally fitand just knowing I wasn't going crazy helped.I take a high dose of Cymbalta,after trying several meds and it helps with the symtoms and lets me deal with life better .I have been on it for 5 years and I am finally getting to thepoint I can read a simple book and comprehend it again(most days).Dr.tried add meds(didn't work),had 4 MRI's (do have a brain in there)In have strange reactions to meds so have to be careful in what I take .I would have gone anywhere to get treated but all sites I went to advised they did not know the cause or the treatment so as my gen.Dr. advised "I have learned to live with it"but the hope is still there it will leave and I will be "NORMAL" someday.

  - Becky

• February 8, 2011 11:09 a.m.

  I am a 12 year surviver of breast cancer .I did not take chemo but took Tomoxifin for 5 years ,my problems started after I came off it ,for a year I noticed problems at my job till it got so bad I was more or less given the choice to quit or be fired .I hid the problem pretty well I guess because I was just accused of being hateful,mean and hard to get along with, and no one semed to notice the other problems I had lost of memory,not reconizing peopleor remembering names loss of cognitive skills ,sleep problems etc.I also have strange medical problems that the Dr. can't find reasons for,benign position vertigo,Horners syndrome,cluster headaches to name a few.Being a police officer these are not things you can continue working with. I now am on disability,antidepressants,Tamoxifin also caused my thyroid to sut down shortly after surgery,but all together I am just glad to be alive.My friend was diagonosed with lump 1 year after me and she oped not to do any of the therapy after because of side effects and 8 years later the same cancer came back but on her bones and she spent a year and half in severe pain before she died mid-summer last year.I miss her very much as we were a suppot for each other but again I am glad to be alive and have my family around me and will deal with the other problems.Just don't give me anything to put up for you or ask me to remind you of anything,LOL . Belief in God has helped me more than anything.If you can laugh at yourself when you forget helps

  - Becky

• December 25, 2010 6:31 a.m.

  I had chemotherapy treatments in 2007 due to breast cancer. I never had the best of memory but since chemo and radiation treatments the problems have been many. Sometimes when I'm driving to an appointment or even just out driving to run some errands, I totally forget where I'm headed, fortunately I do remember but i've actually had to stop the car and think about it already...scary! I've don't remember conversations my husband swears we've had, like plans for one thing or another,this too I may get flickers of the conversation after he tells me where we were when we discussed plans or what we were talking about at the time ect. Words don't come to me, I just can't think of the word I want. A little off the chemo brain subject...my hot flashes are unbearable at times, three years now... I'm fatigued I get a very tired and sore upper back by my shoulder area where I just need to sit down for fear of fainting( which I've never done). there is more... but I'm glad to be alive and there are survivers out there with alot worse off than me, I thank God every day for all my blessings, one of them being a very loving and supportive and sometimes frustrated husband..Your loved ones can be your best medicine, if there supportive and understanding. God Bless.

  - cyndi

• December 21, 2010 7:41 a.m.

  I've wanted mention a comment or two more to my earlier post......I wish to that it was great to have found this web site---a lot of good information. I have said prayers for all of you.

  - Al

• December 21, 2010 7:31 a.m.

  I am a caregiver to a survivor. My wife is exhibiting some of the symptoms of chemo brain i.e. "a very short fuse", sometimes having trouble continuing verbalizing a sentence. I have tried to gently to talk to about it, but she doesn't think there is problem. I know this is very frustrating for her, but it is very frustrating for me. Sometimes when I talk to her it is as if I'm talking a foreign lanuage to her.

  - Al

• December 6, 2010 1:21 p.m.

  I finished my chemo in Aug. of 2009. but frustration and depression has set in. my proffesion is a nurse, and I cannot hold down a job. I keep making the smallest mistakes, I cant remember names, medications, conversations. I have trouble concentrating. I cant remember how to spell the littlest word. I've been fired from one job and going to be fired from my recent job. I dont blame them for firing me, I get more upset and angry with myself.

  - patriia

• December 5, 2010 1:03 p.m.

  My 36 year old son has had Lymphoma treated with chemo for 18 months. He then developed MDS and went to Duke for a stem cell transplant. The transplant has failed and he did receive chemo there also. He has had memory problems since the start in 2008 and we called it chemo brain without knowing the term even existed. This has been of great concern to him, he states that he hates not remembering things we did or he has had done. Sometimes it good to not remember. He now has Leukemia and has only a short time left. No more Chemo he said since the odds are 0-25% for remission again. He wants to feel good while he still has some time with his two girls ages 13 and 15.

  - cheryl

• November 1, 2010 2:08 a.m.

  i am a breast cancer survivior for 5 yrs, I still have chemo brain, i used to joke I'm doing good to get home to the right house every night. Now I just want mY OLD BRAIN BACK! I solid as a rock. I'm tired of this. I can't remember sooooo much, until I m told then I 24 to36 hrs It seems sorta like I do

  - dixie

• October 24, 2010 7:03 p.m.

  I guess my chemo brain got to with the last post. I didn't talk about chemo brain much at all. Like most everyone else, I have almost all of the symptoms on the list. I don't remember what I've told people, where I'm supposed to be, am fatigued very easily, cry all the time etc. My husband and kids know about this and understand to a point. Between my lack of memory and fatigue I haven't found where I fit in and what I'm going to be when I grow up. I'm sure that God has a plan for me and I just have to wait for his direction.

  - Pat

• October 24, 2010 1:39 p.m.

  It's great to find this site. I have been dealing with chemo brain big time. I was diagnosed with brain cancer and I really believe I had a form of the fog even before the chemo started. I've completed six doses of heavy-duty methotrexate and am now beginning a monthly regimen. The docs don't know how long I will have to keep coming back. Mine is a 5 hour drive for four days of treatment and has been every other week until now. I used to be a very productive go-to person; an excellent speller, fantastic memory, etc. I am an RN who obviously cannot work - would you want me to be your nurse. I have a hard enough time with my own meds :-) I can no longer, can't write, although I can finally sign my name somewhere close to my signature. We moved a year ago, which meant leaving all my old friends and support system. I have made some new friends here, but I still feel pretty alone. Feeling sooooo foggy makes me uncomfortable driving. I need a shopping buddy - other than my husband. I don't have anything profound to say but it feels good to say it to someone who understands. God Bless us all.

  - Pat

• October 22, 2010 9:42 a.m.

  I have Chemo brain and it's very scary.Im a nurse,but not working at this time. I am 48, I find myself asking the same questions over and over. I write things down so I can keep up with the world around me. I can't read for long period of time because I forget want I just read. The dr. stated this should go away, but its scary living in a world were you forget daily. I talk to my family anf friends about this so they can understand if I aske them the same questions the next day or maybe the same day. Its from the chemo. They all understand. The fight we fight to survive cancer then have to live with some many side effects of the medication. Yes, I am happy to be a survivor. But its hard not being the person I used to be. I am taking this one day at a time. Sometimes one hour at a time. I am so happy to have found this blog and received some much information on chemo brain and I am not along. Barbara

  - Barbara

• October 21, 2010 12:14 p.m.

  I am on a monthly dose of Chemo for my brain cancer diagnosis. Have beenn for 8 months. The days I am taking my monthly, five day drug regimen are the days when my Chemo brain kicks in - BIG TIME. I fought it for months but I have found that the more tired I am, the worse my symptoms are. SO - I take a lot of naps those five days when I am dosing. Other than those days, I seem to have the normal brain of an active 65 year old.

  - Judith

• October 14, 2010 10:50 p.m.

  Wow its good to read all these posts about the side effects of chemotherapy. I am about 1/3 the way through my chemo and I fear I am already experiencing some chemo brain symptoms. I had a weak memory before my cancer diagnosis, and now I can't seem to focus on simple bookkeeping or even reading a book for any length of time...like my brain has no power left in it. Considering my career involves extensive reading and number crunching I am worried that I will no longer be able to do my work....and that things will only get worse in the months of treatment ahead, and then years of hormonal treatment recommended. So how does a young single mom cancer survivor survive when making a living becomes so difficult? There sure is more to surviving cancer than just getting healed up after surgery. I lost my breasts, then my hair, and now my mind and my sanity are questionable as well. Thank goodness for good friends, patient co-workers and excellent health professionals...with all their help and support hopefully I can survive chemo brain too!

  - Deb

• September 22, 2010 7:52 a.m.

  One day i was total lost dit not know for a few moments where i have has park my car.From chemo therapy my memory was good,after three month`s on hormone therapy i experience panic attach,But it is only for about 5 min.We as cancer survivors went through a difficult time in our life from all the teatments.My opinion i think it is stress.

  - Charlotte

• September 19, 2010 3:03 p.m.

  I am beginning to think that I may have been affected by chemo brain? I had both radiation and chemo for islet cell cancer of the pancreas, that ended in Dec. of 2009. By July of that year I no longer could write poetry, by Nov. I no longer could compose prose. By April of 2010 my fatigue increased my participation began taking a back step from participation. 3 months ago my short term memory began to become almost nil. The past two moths I've been doing things like putting coffee grounds in water resovoir and being confused at what I'm doing. My neurologist took an MRI and said there was no hydrocephalus or additional brain tuber growth. Is it likely that I'm facing chemo brain?

  - Kay

• September 17, 2010 10:29 a.m.

  I am so thankful that I came across this blog about "chemo brain". My husband has been through about 3 years off and on, with chemo. He recently has had confusion about our conversations and feeling disorganized. Due to some family history, we were both concerned about dementia. Now I know his symptoms are chemo brain. Thanks to all for sharing your experiences. He gets so frustrated sometimes and I know it is partly because he thinks he is getting dementia like his sisters. Now I can encourage him and maybe he will be less depressed. Prayers to all.

  - Carol

• September 16, 2010 2:24 p.m.

  I'm wondering about chemo brain in someone who is in the early stages of Alzheimer's? Does it exacerbate dementia that is already present? And will it hasten Alzheimer's?

  - Brooke

• September 8, 2010 10:21 p.m.

  Nice to see I have 10 of the 13 symptoms. I was told it could happen; but have always been especially sharp with a great memory. NOT now, 5 months out of chemo for testicular cancer and my memory is nowhere in sight. Especially troublilng today as I totally blanked for words and to recall my own report while on the witness stand in court. I work as a police detective, and being able to remember details is especially important in my day to day job. Frustrated does not even begin to describe it.

  - dude

• August 24, 2010 2:59 p.m.

  Hello, this is a very hard stage to bear right now, i am a caregive & significant other to my fiance who has end stage kidney cancer.. He has taken off his chemo treatment Torisel and has been off this for 8 months now due to severe Toxcity and major complications due to this chemo. He has been off all treatments since the chemo was stopped in Jan this yr.. I have noticed the man i love go thru four sets of personality changes and very eratic behavior which started about 6 weeks ago.. I don't know if this is chemo brain or this cancer has metastasized to his brain.. I have seen a very quiet man start out being very verbal about his emotions, and talk where he was so very quiet and kept all emotions in to a loving man and then this wonderful giving man who took care of me while i was sick and took me to the doctors and wanted to know about everything about my medical issues, He was so concerned and seem that he was the man i have been waiting to see all my life.. He now is a raving lunatic with mood changes that turn on and off like a light swith.. He is so angry with me all the time, i can't do anything without mean, cruel, comments.. This has become an issue that has me feeling like i have no clue who this man is.. I am going to discuss with my doctor tomorrow and the oncologist too.. He needs help and nedes this out in the open as others are seeing a man yelling so loud and angry at the drop of a hat.. I need help can anyone help me with any other suggestions.. Thank

  - Becky