Common side effects of chemotherapy include forgetfulness, trouble concentrating, and foggy thinking.
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Some treatments for breast cancer—like chemotherapy—are extremely debilitating. Forgetfulness, trouble concentrating, and foggy thinking are common side effects. “I always prided myself on remembering numbers when I worked on Wall Street,” Pamilla deLeon-Lewis says. “But chemo absolutely compromised my short-term memory.”
What’s the chemo-fog connection? “It may be hormonally related,” says Jennifer Litton, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the department of breast medical oncology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. “Chemo can put a woman into menopause, and these are symptoms that go along with that. Postmenopausal women suffer, too, and we’re not sure why.” The fog lifts somewhat over time—but not for everyone, experts say.
Almost 15% of women who’ve had chemotherapy will have chemo-brain for life, but deLeon-Lewis isn’t discouraged: “I refuse to let cancer—or any of the medications to get rid of cancer—keep me down. I do crossword puzzles, word games, and anything else I can to keep my mind strong.”
