Cognitive Problems of Breast-Cancer Survivors--What Are the Real Causes?
By Lillie Shockney, R.N., M.A.S.
Jan 20, 2012
Jan 20, 2012
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For some time now, we've known that breast-cancer patients who receive chemotherapy have trouble with their thought processes during and after this treatment. These women have trouble with such things as remembering where their keys are, being able to add up numbers in their head, and recalling what errands they had to do around town without writing them down. Most worrisome is the fact that this "fuzzy head" feeling lasted potentially for several years after treatment.
Why breast-cancer survivors?
Why are breast-cancer survivors the only ones who seem to be are wrestling with these cognitive problems after cancer treatment? I believe the answer might be related to three things that all come together in this particular patient population. My theories:
- During breast cancer treatment, estrogen levels are pushed down to zero. This could certainly contribute to fuzzy thinking.
- The specific drugs we use for treating breast cancer are not given to other groups of cancer patients; it's possible that these meds might be behind the cognitive troubles.
- Of individuals with breast cancer, 99 percent are women; perhaps women, when in crisis, have a higher incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than men do.
What might behind brain freeze?
An interesting research study conducted at the Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida, and published in the December 12 online edition ofCancer, finds that chemotherapy might not be the guilty party here.
What might be? Believe it or not, these scientists say that getting hit with a diagnosis of cancer might be enough to muddle a person's mind in this way. Yep, this new analysis has determined that breast-cancer survivors can experience problems with certain mental functions several years after treatment--whether they had chemo and radiation, or just radiation with no chemo.
Both test groups affected the same
This study compared breast-cancer survivors who had had surgery and chemo with survivors who had had surgery, chemo, and radiation. A third group of participants had no breast-cancer history at all. All the study participants completed neuropsychological assessments 6 months after completion of their treatment and again 36 months later. The results showed that both groups of breast-cancer survivors had problems with cognitive functioning.
Another interesting finding of the researchers: Hormonal therapy had neither a positive nor a negative influence on the results.
A closer look at PTSD?
Such a study will, I hope, open the door to more research looking at whether PTSD is perhaps a contributing factor to the long-term, psychological side effects experienced by these women. After all, those of us who have been diagnosed and treated for breast cancer did go to war--and back--against our cancers.
Watch for additional research studies to pop up now that this one has been published. All food for thought.
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