chemobrain
Post-infusion mental fog
Chemobrain is the cognitive impairment that often accompanies cancer treatment—difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, mental fogginess.
Patients describe feeling slower or less sharp than before chemotherapy: The chemobrain is real; I can't remember simple words anymore.
The effects may persist for months or years after treatment ends.
Also called chemo brain or chemo fog.
Failure to recall
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
- attentionFocused mental awareness
- mental fogClouded, sluggish cognition
- confusionMental disorientation or bewilderment
word-finding · forgetfulness · processing speed · disorientation · multitasking · focus · recall · haziness
Compromised thinking ability
- neurotoxicityHarmful effects on nerves
- oncologyCancer medicine specialty
- neuropsychologyScience of brain-cognition relationships
- cognitive assessmentTest of thinking abilities
neuroimaging · biomarkers · neuropathy · pharmacology · cancer therapy · neurological · toxicity · cognitive testing
Displeasure from blocked efforts
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- loss of selfDisappearance of individual identity
- identityWho someone is
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
embarrassment · isolation · helplessness · fear · anger · depression · adjustment · acceptance
Regaining what was lost
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- remissionTemporary disease absence
- hopeDesire for good outcomes
- survivorOne still alive after
quality of life · rehabilitation · healing · support · awareness · advocacy · empowerment · long-term effects
Planned approaches to goals
- compensatoryMaking up for loss
- remindersAids against forgetting
- calendarsSystems for tracking dates
- listsOrdered item collections
routine · pacing · mindfulness · sleep hygiene · support groups · occupational therapy · cognitive training · journaling
memory loss
Failure to recall
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
- attentionFocused mental awareness
- mental fogClouded, sluggish cognition
confusion · word-finding · forgetfulness · processing speed · disorientation · multitasking · focus · recall · haziness · difficulty concentrating
cognitive dysfunction
Compromised thinking ability
- neurotoxicityHarmful effects on nerves
- oncologyCancer medicine specialty
- neuropsychologyScience of brain-cognition relationships
cognitive assessment · neuroimaging · biomarkers · neuropathy · pharmacology · cancer therapy · neurological · toxicity · cognitive testing
frustration
Displeasure from blocked efforts
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- loss of selfDisappearance of individual identity
- identityWho someone is
anxiety · embarrassment · isolation · helplessness · fear · anger · depression · adjustment · acceptance · validation
recovery
Regaining what was lost
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- remissionTemporary disease absence
- hopeDesire for good outcomes
survivor · quality of life · rehabilitation · healing · support · awareness · advocacy · empowerment · long-term effects · new normal
strategies
Planned approaches to goals
- compensatoryMaking up for loss
- remindersAids against forgetting
- calendarsSystems for tracking dates
lists · routine · pacing · mindfulness · sleep hygiene · support groups · occupational therapy · cognitive training · journaling · meditation
- Memory Lossamnesia, forgetting, forgetfulness, memory loss, memory lapse
chemobrainmental clarity
Sharpness of thought
sharp mind · mental sharpness · clear thinking · mental acuity · cognitive function
chemobrainclearheadedness
State of sharp thinking
lucidity · mental focus · alertness · concentration · quick-wittedness
chemo, brain, brains, brainy, brainless, brainstorm, brainchild, chemistry, chemical