I’m taking up walking to combat the fog of ‘chemo brain’
Feeling forgetful? It's not your imagination.
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I used to pride myself on my memory. Growing up, I remembered every detail of things that happened. Sometimes I would – very annoyingly — correct anyone who got those details wrong.
That was a very long time ago.
My memory isn’t that good anymore. My husband and I have a standing joke: If I go to the grocery store for three things, I’ll come back with only two of them. If I’m sidetracked from a chore, I will forget to finish it. Just the other night my son found still-warm leftovers on the kitchen counter because I’d forgotten to put them in the refrigerator. Sometimes I struggle to remember names or words, which is frustrating for a professional writer.
I see other multiple myeloma patients report similar issues, and there’s a name for it: “chemo brain.”
Chemo brain is real
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) defines chemo brain as “a term commonly used to describe thinking and memory problems that a patient with cancer may have before, during, or after cancer treatment.” The Mayo Clinic has some additional labels for the condition: “chemo fog, cancer-related cognitive impairment, or cognitive dysfunction.”
It’s strange to think I might have chemo brain now. I went off maintenance treatment four years ago. For some people, however, chemo brain can last “for months or years after treatment,” notes the Columbia University Irving Medical Center to reassure patients they’re not imagining the difficulties with memory and focus.
NCI, Mayo, and Columbia all say there are many possible causes for chemo brain, starting with treatment. Confusion is a known side effect of the proteasome inhibitor Velcade (bortezomib), while difficulty concentrating is a side effect of dexamethasone. Both are common myeloma treatments.
Other possible causes range from the cancer itself to stress and depression. Since I work in news, stress is a way of life for me.
Helpful strategies
Remember Uncle Billy in the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life?” He tried to remember things by tying strings around his fingers but still forgot.
I use lists, writing down even routine tasks. If I don’t write it down, it doesn’t happen. And I write it all with a pen or pencil on paper because for me, electronic reminders are as effective as Uncle Billy’s pieces of string.
Mayo and Columbia suggest other ways to cope: reducing stress, doing puzzles or other brain-training games, and setting up routines. Physical activity is also recommended, and a recent study in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network may back that up.
The study was not myeloma-specific, but the researchers say they found less cancer-related cognitive impairment among patients who took part in a prescribed exercise program that involved walking or resistance bands while undergoing chemotherapy. They also say the most significant impact was for patients in two-week chemotherapy cycles.
Since myeloma treatment usually happens in four-week cycles, that could be discouraging. But this is just one study, and regular exercise certainly can’t hurt. I’m taking early-morning walks around the neighborhood, clocking about a mile in 25 minutes. I still need my lists, but I am feeling less stressed. So I’m going to try to keep it up. I have nothing to lose, after all.
Except maybe a few extra pounds!
Note: Rare Cancer News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Rare Cancer News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to rare cancer.
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