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StephN · 07-22-2005, 12:11 PM

Hey Gals -
At least we remember to check this site often!
I also spaced out my treatment one time when on weekly for mets. Also forgot another time during my every 3-weekly. I have a "daytimer" and try to write down EVERYthing there that I MUST do and EACH appt. Then the problem is to remember to check it at night before I go to bed so I don't miss an appt the next morning! I also paperclip invitations and emails that I need to answer to the pages.

"Chemo brain" may be a bit of a misnomer (as one of you stated the chemo drugs don't get into the brain itself). Chemo Fog is a good substitute. And it can take a very long time for this fog to clear once the drugs are stopped.

One of the better explanations I ever heard (or read - can't recall which ...) is that when we are on the heavy chemo drugs our red and white blood counts drop for long periods of time. Our brains need a lot of oxygen from our red cells to function well. When our blood oxygen level is lowered, so is the amount getting into that gray matter in our skulls. This causes us to feel like numbskulls!
Our hearts also pump a little faster to try to raise that blood oxygen level that our bodies are crying for. This can have the effect of causing us shortness of breath upon exertion.
So, with this in mind, is it any wonder we have these problems.

Doctors are supposed to KNOW HOW OUR BODIES WORK. If you have "chemo brain" problems just know that you are in a LOT of good company, and there are VERY REAL changes to our ability to do all kinds of things.
The worst of it will get better within a few months, but some of us have had to have chemo drugs time and time again for long periods and do feel permanently "retarded" compared to how we were BC (before chemo).

As for the being "uncoordinated" problem, many drugs affect our nerve endings and our reflexes. After all the taxanes I have had, my deep tendon reflexes are NIL. The rubber hammer gets no response. Even after being off chemo for 3 years. But my balance is better and my typing is faster and more accurate due to ... practice!

07-22-2005, 12:11 PM	#8
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Hey Gals - At least we remember to check this site often! I also spaced out my treatment one time when on weekly for mets. Also forgot another time during my every 3-weekly. I have a "daytimer" and try to write down EVERYthing there that I MUST do and EACH appt. Then the problem is to remember to check it at night before I go to bed so I don't miss an appt the next morning! I also paperclip invitations and emails that I need to answer to the pages. "Chemo brain" may be a bit of a misnomer (as one of you stated the chemo drugs don't get into the brain itself). Chemo Fog is a good substitute. And it can take a very long time for this fog to clear once the drugs are stopped. One of the better explanations I ever heard (or read - can't recall which ...) is that when we are on the heavy chemo drugs our red and white blood counts drop for long periods of time. Our brains need a lot of oxygen from our red cells to function well. When our blood oxygen level is lowered, so is the amount getting into that gray matter in our skulls. This causes us to feel like numbskulls! Our hearts also pump a little faster to try to raise that blood oxygen level that our bodies are crying for. This can have the effect of causing us shortness of breath upon exertion. So, with this in mind, is it any wonder we have these problems. Doctors are supposed to KNOW HOW OUR BODIES WORK. If you have "chemo brain" problems just know that you are in a LOT of good company, and there are VERY REAL changes to our ability to do all kinds of things. The worst of it will get better within a few months, but some of us have had to have chemo drugs time and time again for long periods and do feel permanently "retarded" compared to how we were BC (before chemo). As for the being "uncoordinated" problem, many drugs affect our nerve endings and our reflexes. After all the taxanes I have had, my deep tendon reflexes are NIL. The rubber hammer gets no response. Even after being off chemo for 3 years. But my balance is better and my typing is faster and more accurate due to ... practice!