Understanding Chemobrain

Current research tells us,

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Chemobrain is a cancer related cognitive impairment that may stay with you from the beginning of your diagnosis then progressively hinder your ability to function as you once did before your diagnosis. Making your recovery slower and even more complicated.

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Symptoms include,

PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) - Just the shock of the diagnosis itself is enough to trigger PTSD

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Fight and Flight mode - This is when your mind locks into survival mode and adrenalin and other chemicals cause your mind to stay on high alert for longer than normal periods of time. If not recognised this can stay with a person for years affecting sleep and recovery. Making a person irritable and unpredictable causing stress and anxiety issues. If recognised sooner and managed and they can learn to relax and lead a normal life speeding up recovery.

Normal stress induced situations can trigger fight or flight such as overly busy places or attending exams. 

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Chemobrain or Brain fog - the inability to think clearly especially in certain situations due to a combination of PTSD, Fight and Flight which cause the cloud which causes blank spots in memory recall more so in your short term memory.

 

Memory loss - including facial recognition, words, sentence structure, daily routines, disorientation (not remembering your way).

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Fatigue - the physical side effect that affects you mentally, not having enough energy to function, doing small tasks which you must recover from before continuing (making a cup of coffee for instance)

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Depression - This can affect everyone differently from mild to no symptoms to major clinical depression.

 

 - Also your previous mental health state before diagnosis is important (were you prone to depression prior to your diagnosis for instance) Has your depressed state been impacted by your diagnosis?

 

 - If you are having dark thoughts of harming yourself or other get help by calling your doctor immediately. These thoughts can be helped and prevented by talking to professionals.

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 - A combination of all of these symptoms leading to a clouded mind of confusion sadness and despair. Living from day to day in a daze just surviving seems to be a common existence for lots of people on their cancer journey. 

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 - Doctors typically wait for patients to report their mental state.

Which is why we have set up this website to help you have a voice and feel normal going to a specialist with your symptoms. 

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 - Once a doctor has heard your issues they should signpost you the nearest psychological support centre who can help you understand yourself better while experiencing these symptoms. 

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CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) -  Is a great talking therapy which teaches you how your trauma is affecting you through questionnaires along your sessions and guiding you out of your state of mind. 

 

I found this most helpful after my treatment once the fog had cleared and I was ready to start functioning normally again. (This stage differs from person to person depending on the severity of their diagnosis and treatment and how this has affecting their wellbeing. For me personally this was 10 years after my 6 months of treatment.)