HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Cognitive

dlaxague · 04-17-2008, 01:06 PM

MJo,

There has definitely been a change for me also. Friends try to tell me that it's not the breast cancer treatment, it's the aging, as they claim that they all are having similar issues (we are mostly in our 50's).

As far as cause, I suspect the AI (arimidex) that I took for two years. I think that it may be as big or bigger a culprit than the chemo. It bothers me that those researchers now (finally) paying attention to chemobrain do not seem to be taking AI use into consideration as a confounder. And also that very few of the AI studies are assessing for cognitive changes.

What I notice is not that I think more slowly, nor that I have a problem with learning (which is odd because wouldn't you think that would correlate with short term memory loss?), nor that my logic/thinking functions are worse in any way. As far as how "smart" I am (definitely a debatable topic), I don't perceive a change.

The change as I perceive it has been mostly to short term memory and specifically it impacts my ability to multi-task. It amazes me that I can do such stupid things sometimes, and yet still I seem to function okay at my job, which can be an intense job (labor and delivery RN). I don't know if it's that I've been doing this work for so long that there's some autopilot function that helps me compensate? Or maybe the urgency and importance of my function at work helps me focus somehow? And then there's the physical stamina ... another issue.

I'm 7 years out from diagnosis. It was not until this year that I gave up trying to appear normal. I would hem and haw while waiting/praying for the memory to surface rather than say "NO, I have no memory/clue about that". It has been somewhat of a relief to decide to be open about the issue. If I don't remember or if I forgot to do something, I now say so. I don't apologize for my malfunction although of course if it's caused a problem I apologize for that. I just state the facts. "I forgot". I still hate it that I do forget, but it feels better not to be ashamed about it.

That was a lot of rambling to say not much except I hear you and I send my sympathy/empathy.

Love,
Debbie Laxague

04-17-2008, 01:06 PM	#4
dlaxague Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 221	MJo, There has definitely been a change for me also. Friends try to tell me that it's not the breast cancer treatment, it's the aging, as they claim that they all are having similar issues (we are mostly in our 50's). As far as cause, I suspect the AI (arimidex) that I took for two years. I think that it may be as big or bigger a culprit than the chemo. It bothers me that those researchers now (finally) paying attention to chemobrain do not seem to be taking AI use into consideration as a confounder. And also that very few of the AI studies are assessing for cognitive changes. What I notice is not that I think more slowly, nor that I have a problem with learning (which is odd because wouldn't you think that would correlate with short term memory loss?), nor that my logic/thinking functions are worse in any way. As far as how "smart" I am (definitely a debatable topic), I don't perceive a change. The change as I perceive it has been mostly to short term memory and specifically it impacts my ability to multi-task. It amazes me that I can do such stupid things sometimes, and yet still I seem to function okay at my job, which can be an intense job (labor and delivery RN). I don't know if it's that I've been doing this work for so long that there's some autopilot function that helps me compensate? Or maybe the urgency and importance of my function at work helps me focus somehow? And then there's the physical stamina ... another issue. I'm 7 years out from diagnosis. It was not until this year that I gave up trying to appear normal. I would hem and haw while waiting/praying for the memory to surface rather than say "NO, I have no memory/clue about that". It has been somewhat of a relief to decide to be open about the issue. If I don't remember or if I forgot to do something, I now say so. I don't apologize for my malfunction although of course if it's caused a problem I apologize for that. I just state the facts. "I forgot". I still hate it that I do forget, but it feels better not to be ashamed about it. That was a lot of rambling to say not much except I hear you and I send my sympathy/empathy. Love, Debbie Laxague __________________ 3/01 ~ Age 49, occult primary announced by large axillary node found by my husband. Multiple CBE's, mammogram, U/S could not find anything in the breast. Axillary node biopsy - pathology said + for "mets above diaphragm, probably breast". 4/01 ~ Bilateral mastectomies (LMRM, R simple) - 1.2cm IDC was found at pathology. 5 of 11 axillary nodes positive, largest = 6cm. Stage IIIA ERPR 5%/1% (re-done later at Baylor, both negative at zero). HER2neu positive by IHC and FISH (8.89). Lymphovascular invasion, grade 3, 8/9 modified SBR. TX: Control of arm of NSABP B-31's adjuvant Herceptin trial (no Herceptin): A/C x 4 and Taxol x 4 q3weeks, then rads. Arimidex for two years, stopped after second patholgy opinion.