Have you experienced that popular side effect...chemo brain? I'll never forget the day I had to own it for myself. I had torn the kitchen apart, throwing a little fit, looking for the pepper. I stopped for a moment frustrated to the point of tears. In that moment of silence, my internal voice said...look in the refrigerator. I flung the door open, and sitting where the mustard should've been was the pepper shaker. I looked at my daughter, and laughed defeatedly. I wanted to blame someone else, and I knew that I was the only one who could have put the pepper in there.
Chemo brain is real, and it is NOT just me getting older. In the Summer issue of the Touched By Cancer News, there is a fabulous article By Dr. Jennifer Klemp, regarding cognitive function in young women with breast cancer. Compromised cognitive function is commonly called chemo brain. Dr. Klemp goes on to talk about coping strategies. One common thing is to make lists. I take copious notes on everything. Have you used any clever ways to compensate?
While reading the article, I started wondering...does chemo-brain affect men? Being pre-menopausal before chemo, I got to experience the usual brain fog AND now, two years later, it is referred to as estrogen deprivation due to rapid onset menopause. Men do not go through menopause...so do men going through chemo get chemo brain? How about it guys...does this affect you?
The article on Congnative Function by Dr. Jennifer Klemp published in the newsletter is also available to read on the Touched By Cancer Website. Just follow this link: http://touchedbycancerfoundation.org/tbcf.aspx?pgID=954
Please email us at blogger@touchedbycancerfoundation.org if you would like to subscribe to the newsletter.
Oh, and about the pepper... it went back to its home by the stove... I never found the mustard it had replaced in the refrigerator door.
Until next time, Teresa
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