What About Our Brains?

So cancer didn't kill us. Our cancer treatment didn't kill us. But our brains no longer function as well as they did before.

At my knitting group at a cancer support center we routinely forget each other's names.... and claim chemo brain.

I think there are several causes of chemo brain. The biggest and most important one is the so called 'cognitive dysfunction' as a result of the lovely chemicals they pour into us during treatment. There is a lot of information on this as well as the awareness (finally) of the need to do something about this.

I strongly believe that another cause of chemobrain is the stress and ensuing PTSD that causes us to have lapses in our memories as well.

This raises the issue that while a cancer diagnosis and treatment is harsh on our bodies and on our minds, there needs to be a concerted effort (and more research) on how to improve post treatment care and how to prevent more issues for patients.

From a patient's point of view, a cancer diagnosis should not be a life changing event. I can be a life affecting event but it should not alter you forever - either emotionally or physically.

There are many ailments out there without cures but then why is 'cancer' the only word which is so scary? We need to take the fear out cancer and the injuries out of its treatment. This would help our brains a great deal.