Leroy, I had lots of bouts with chemo brain, although I didn't have a name for it then. I began reading Hawaii by James Michener. I could pick it up any time of day or night and get immersed in the beauty of his words. It was a refuge and brought clarity.

Sent by Anne Hinterlong | 6:57 PM ET | 11-03-2006

Ah... chemo brain. I believe it is a medical term now. Even though I've read that it refers to the recall part, or lack thereof, I experienced more. The day of treatment... total daze. I couldn't read or even watch TV. I just kind of sat there with this pounding headache. If I dared try to answer my work e-mail, my head would hurt even more. I simply could not concentrate or even string words together. Reading required something that the chemo killed. But that haze lifts in a day or two. When I went back to work after my rounds, chemo brain was alive and well and I was not able to do programming. The part of the brain used to do that just wasn't performing up to par. Not sure it ever did, but let's say I was well into the bogey department. I'm 7 years out now, but those days are very clear. Chemo brain is real! If Sudoku puzzles were around then, I'm thinking it might have been the right exercise to speed up recovery. Maybe.

Hang in there. Some days it's just foggy out there (or in there). It clears up. :o)

Sent by Carol | 6:59 PM ET | 11-03-2006

I just want to wish you well, Leroy, and tell you I admire your courage. I'm a prostate cancer survivor 3.5 years — did not have to do chemo.

Sent by Russ Doty | 7:01 PM ET | 11-03-2006

Remember those vacations we used to take when we thought that life's annoyances would be left at home, but were unpleasantly surprised by missed connections, lost hotel reservations, and $10 Cokes? We could grumble and grouch and upset our nice vacation, but it wouldn't do any good — the Coke is still going to cost 10 bucks.

If you can't go with the flow, don't get on the plane.

Now we are on another trip, albeit one we didn't plan for and one we don't want. But we can still go with the flow and put the annoyances in perspective (we ARE alive, after all) and ignore them — the nausea, fatigue, neuropathy, chemo brain.

So you asked what I do about my chemo brain. Simple. I don't make any major decisions. I let my wife make them. She's used to it. In her opinion, I've had chemo brain from birth.

Sent by David Larsen | 7:03 PM ET | 11-03-2006

Understanding your wanting to do your job. Just go do it. My honey was an excavator, an expert one. He was working on a really big job and had it to the point where he was leveling the site with a bulldozer. In the final weeks & days of his life he would balance his morphine and the visits from the hospice nurses with the trips to the job. Our neighbor would come and get him, drive him to the job, help him up on his dozer and be there in case needed. When it was time to go home, from the bone of advanced prostate cancer pain or because he had to be there for his nurses he would reverse the trip. He wanted to do it, so he just did. When the site was complete, he checked it with the laser, it was 1/4" off in one corner, not enough to do anything about. Oh, did I tell you he did the work by eye, not the laser. He came home all smiles. He wasn't out of the country, but you could try it anyhow. How will you feel if you don't? It IS still your life. God bless.

Sent by Janet S. Lahm | 7:06 PM ET | 11-03-2006

My mother is going through chemo and it is helpful to me to read your blog so I can better understand and empathize with what she is going through. Thanks so much for your insights. It is very brave of you. I know you did not set out to be a hero, but you are.

Sent by Tania Horne | 7:08 PM ET | 11-03-2006

When I was going through a prolonged illness that left me extremely weak and foggy, I complained to my therapist that I was depressed because I had so much to do and I could barely get three chores done when I got home from work each day. He said to let go of the guilt I felt at not being able to what I used to do and then I needed to recognize my limited capacity and figure out what three things I needed to do each day, and not worry about the rest.

It took a couple of weeks for my mind to really adjust to this way of thinking about my life, but it really helped, much more so than the vague one day at a time statements that people toss at you. Having a concrete approach to managing my limited physical/mental resources helped me feel in control and helped me not feel so overwhelmed, and it also allowed me to not feel guilty about taking as much down time as I needed after all, I had a plan. I don't know how well this might work for someone undergoing chemo, but it helped me through years of on-and-off illness.

Sent by Laurie | 7:10 PM ET | 11-03-2006

Dear Leroy,

I usually do the very thing you're doing now: 1)let it be what it is, 2)write in a journal whatever comes to mind, and 3)nap a lot, if you're able. I experienced heightened anxiety in the middle of the worst chemo drugs and had to start taking Xanax. It helped immensely. Then I wasn't as perturbed by those muddlesome (is that a word?) thought processes. I also dragged out my favorite books and reread them. It was like comfort food. Hope that helps. I think of you each day.

Sent by Sherri | 7:12 PM ET | 11-03-2006

Dear Mr. Sievers,

I was diagnosed with breast cancer on my 37th birthday and received chemo and radiation therapy. I too had a hard time dealing with what you referred to as "chemo cycle." Some days, I felt I was better off dead than going through the horrible feeling of being drunk with poison. During the "chemo cycle" I couldn't eat or sleep. Being a woman, I had induced menopause due to the chemo treatment, so I not only felt depression, I also experienced menopausal effects (e.g., night sweats, mood swings, etc). What helped me is piano music while receiving the medicine, and funny movies like Birdcage and The Holy Grail during the "chemo cycle." Plenty of watermelon (only thing I can tolerate) helped me wash all the poison out faster.

Sent by Liza M. Lee | 7:15 PM ET | 11-03-2006

Hello Leroy, I call them my "down days." And I think of managing them as part of my get-well plan. I tell myself that all of my body needs this rest time in order to best recover from all of the invisible, yet undesirable chemo effects. Often it's not easy to rest when I'm not tired so my husband and I make sure there is a supply of light books and magazines (from the unending backlog), as well as the occasional movie DVD next to the sofa in our family room. I read/watch while my head can concentrate, and focus on taking in those fluids. I let myself feel virtuous for catching up on my relaxation plans. I'm usually feeling improvement within 24 hours.

Sent by Sheara | 7:17 PM ET | 11-03-2006

Sometimes you just have to roll with it.

I used to think of an old SNL bit, back when it truly was funny. A young, thin, and funny Dan Ackroyd, playing Jimmy Carter, trying to talk someone down who had taken too much acid or something... "Get some orange juice and an Allman Brothers album... it's gonna be all right now..." So that is my suggestion. Ride it out, settle in and watch daytime TV. A days worth of Judge Shows will help you see that chemo brain isn't so bad, it does go away.

Sent by Brit | 7:19 PM ET | 11-03-2006

Leroy,

I struggled with chemo brain for months this year. I found a drug that helped a great deal. It is called Provigil. It acts like a stimulant but technically is not. It was developed to treat narcolepsy. It has the effect of "turning the lights back on " in the brain. Ive not known of any side effects. You might feel like youre taking enough pills already but I think you might want to look into this one. It greatly improved my quality of life while on chemo. Good luck to you.

Sent by Jerome Frank | 11:23 AM ET | 11-06-2006

I am 61 and was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer at the end of August.

One of my three chemo drugs is Avastin. Before starting, one of my biggest fears was mouth sores, I really enjoy eating and was not aware of other potential problems.

No one mentioned "Chemo brain." That was not a pleasant surprise. Another surprise was my eyesight deterioration, watery eyes and blurry vision — but I found a way that helped with that — at least this time around.

My Avastin is "pushed," given by the chemo nurse personally over a 15 min period. (I was told it is so toxic that if it were not going directly into a vein, it could have devastating consequences, therefore the "push" so the nurse will be present.)

While I am getting Avastin, they give me ice chips to roll around in my mouth to shrink the vessels and therefore get less chemo flowing through in my mouth. So far, I have managed to avoid mouth sores.

Using their theory, which ended up working, I bought an "Ace reusable cold compress." It is fabric covered and does not get "ice hard." I took it to chemo in a bag with Blue Ice. (I was seven hours from taking it out of the freezer until chemo started, (travel distance, other appointments, etc.) It was very cold when I placed it over my eyes and pushed it gently in to touch my eyesockets. Felt good actually. I held it in place with a one and a half inch elastic band that has Velcro on it. I bought it in a Walgreens. Three came in a package and was called a Spa, something or other. I think it was in the hair isle.

I'm sure they thought I was crazy, but as you know, priorities change. It worked for me. Hope the idea can help someone else.

I even considered putting ice on my head for the "Chemo brain," but had enough of my brain left to dismiss that idea.

Sent by Norma Greer | 11:53 AM ET | 11-06-2006

My sister-in-law, who is an internist, told me yesterday that she read in one of her journals that there is no such thing as "chemo-brain". I told her I want to see evidenced based proof! Things like this help me understand why this condition is not given more respect. Sometimes the deficits/changes are so subtle that people perform acceptably well on neuropsych tests and this objective data is what leads physicians to believe that this condition is not real.

I believe that calling it "chemo-brain" tends to trivialize it and make it seem not so severe or disabling. I prefer to call it "cognitive changes due to chemotherapy". In my case, with breast cancer treatment, the chemotherapy and subsequent hormone suppression medications have led to menopause. Memory loss is common in postmenopausal women who have not had cancer treatment, so I have noticed that the oncologists like to attribute the neuron-cognitive changes after cancer treatment to something other than the drugs they prescribed! I recognize that the chemotherapy was administered to prevent me from dying of cancer, but I just wish that the short and long term sequelae of cancer treatments were addressed in a more forthright manner. I finished my chemotherapy in March and all my treatment was completed by July. I still have memory issues. I am an RN and it frightens me that I might screw up at work. My doctors think that working will keep my brain sharper! I hope so because Im continually amazed at things I neglect. I have had bills go unpaid and in my pre-cancer days I was compulsive with family finances. It is a loss I was not expecting and it angers me. I am more careful at work than I used to be, which is not altogether a bad thing.

I found your blog accidentally about a month ago and am feeling so blessed to read both your and your readers thoughts and feelings on the experience of having cancer. I had bilateral mastectomies 15 yrs ago at age 35 for early breast cancer and then last December I had a recurrence which was treated with chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Im trying to balance getting back to normal (whatever that is now) with trying to get more appreciation for each day on this earth. Hang in there thank you for being here for all of us.

Sent by Kathy | 12:04 PM ET | 11-06-2006

Hi Leroy, I spent the worst of my "chemo brain" days watching Mash reruns. Somehow I could focus on that when I couldnt even read or use the laptop!

I am now three years and three months post treatment for stage 3C ovarian cancer. What I find interesting is that the "chemo brain" has never left completely. I have short term memory problems and often feel as though I am in a thinner fog than the one I was in for a few days after each treatment.

Thank you for writing each day. I admire your courage and spunk.

Sent by Sondra Scott | 12:19 PM ET | 11-06-2006

I'm a few weeks out from the end of my treatment for breast cancer and I am just now starting to feel like the fog is lifting. Sometimes I can see snippets of my former life, waiting out there for me to reclaim them. On my worst chemo days I couldn't even follow the plot of Scooby Dooby Doo! I kid you not. Reading was out and watching movies was just too taxing. I started watching TV shows like Myth Busters and cooking shows... no plot to follow there. I also discovered the game show network and their endless reruns of the Millionaire show. It didn't matter if I fell asleep and missed an hour. I did find that my foggy days were always the worst if I was dehydrated. Believe it or not, sometimes a big old glass of Gatorade would make things a bit better for me. Good Luck!

Sent by Deb C. | 12:23 PM ET | 11-06-2006

My mother has cancer and I need the data about the ciber medicine for dificult cancer or with no cure.

That you advertise in your radio program.

Thanks.

Sent by Rafael Edgardo Covarrubias Schroder | 1:33 PM ET | 11-06-2006

Leroy — As a 16 month veteran of chemo, I can tell you that chemo brain comes and goes. When I have it for moments, as opposed to days, I laugh it off and fix whatever stupid thing I did or forgot to do. I rarely send things out without looking it over a couple of hours later, just in case. When I experience chemo brain days, I just go back to bed and accept my body is telling I need more rest than I've been giving it. My PCP put me on Zoloft and that has helped somewhat with the everyday depression and a bit with the full day chemo days. I joined Netflix just to make sure I have something to watch and I don't have to go out to get it. Take care.

Sent by Robin | 1:40 PM ET | 11-06-2006

Hi, I can offer a suggestion for chemo brain...especially as you describe it will get better in a couple/few days. You may want to try a Mindfulness meditation tape...if you like it you could incorporate into your regular routine. The gist of it is this...it helps you be "in the moment" with your chemo brain not fighting it, but accepting it as part of your current experience. You can then learn to give yourself new messages... and focus on other parts of your body, to bring a sense of calm and peace. There are many on the market, and some are specifically meant to help with chronic disease/cancer. Living with cancer calls for new and "daring" strategies!

Take care.

Sent by Lynn Hadley | 1:41 PM ET | 11-06-2006

Yeah, chemo brain. While I'm taking an oral targeted chemo-therapy, when I was on the original high doses, I had it all the time. Four pills per day did not set well with me at all, and I basically was non-functional. Now that the dosage is reduced (for my physical well-being, not because it's curing me quickly), I feel better, but don't bother me before 10 a.m. I just hope the reduced dosage is still working on the cancer.

As an aside if I may, many of you mention work while fighting cancer. I lost my job unexpectedly exactly one week before I was diagnosed with my cancer returning. Now, re-entering the workforce on a part time basis has been next to impossible. Any suggestions or experiences along these lines, trying to find a job while suffering from cancer, would be appreciated. I have qualified for SS disability, but I'm the type that can't sit around.

Sent by Mark Weissenborn | 1:43 PM ET | 11-06-2006

It's funny, but I had never heard of chemo brain as an actual term until sometime after I finished chemo. I had named my affliction "chemo fog" and it was with me to some degree for most of six months of chemo. Most of the time I could not concentrate even to read or watch TV between chemo fog and nausea. I also got moderate migraine headaches about three to four times every two weeks during chemo, and that just added to it. I wondered if I would ever think clearly again but shortly after chemo ended, so did the chemo brain. As far as dealing with it, if I needed to sleep or at least shut my eyes for a while, that is what I did (I was on disability during chemo and could not work). I listened to a lot of music because I could enjoy it with my eyes shut and did not have to think a lot. I would also listen to books on tape when I could concentrate a little. My wife Mary and I would spend many a summer evening sitting out on our porch listening to a book on tape together. I would talk on the phone or e-mail friends if I wasn't totally in a fog or feeling too sick. I would remind myself that despite my worries sometimes that I would always feel confused, this was likely to improve once chemo ended. I would look to the future. And if there were small things that I could enjoy during each day and be thankful for them, then I would. Hang in there, Leroy.

Sent by Art Ritter | 1:58 PM ET | 11-06-2006

I have never had chemo, but I have had chronic fatigue for 15 years and fibromyalgia for 27. The chemo fog you describe sounds just like the "brain fog" that I experience when I push myself past the warning signs that tell me to stop and replenish my energy. As a single parent and hospice social worker, I don't always have the option of stopping to rest. I become overwhelmed, disorganized, confused and forgetful. When I am home alone, I can become very depressed over my losses in function and how horrible I feel, and can easily waste a day as you describe. Over the years, I have learned to use those times of exhaustion to read, knit, take a nap or call friends and connect with them, not to whine about how rotten I feel, but to hear what is going on with them and to share the joys in my life. I have to accept the fatigue as "the way it is" for right now and not get down on myself about it. I didn't ask for this to happen, but I have choices in how I respond to it.

I learned early in my life to celebrate moments, such as unusual lighting outside, an exceptional thunderstorm, the antics and affection of pets, and the many special moments with my son. I still grieve my losses, then count the ways that I can positively affect someone else's life and make a difference in for them, if only for a moment. It has taken me a lot of years to attain some peace. I hope that you and others who may read this can use my experience to keep depression at bay. It is a beast in its own right on top of all that you are dealing with. I sincerely wish you the best.

Sent by Deb Leon | 2:02 PM ET | 11-06-2006

Hi Leroy,

Please remember how brave you are... Your writings are an incredible gift to all of us. I finished chemo one year ago (breast cancer) and I must say, chemo brain lingered. I still am not what I used to be, but I am learning to adjust. I want to thank you for your incredible insight and I hope you are feeling better soon.

Sent by Getty | 2:04 PM ET | 11-06-2006

Having just surpassed my 38 year old wife's two year anniversary of discovering her cancer, we have found that her chemo brain actually worsened as the time from her treatments lengthened. Her experience during chemotherapy was a worst case scenario. She has little memory of those months. I like the way you describe chemo brain. It puts into words quite well a very frustrating and complicated condition that has no medical remedies that we are aware of, and is very debilitating to the sufferer. One and a half years away from chemo and every day is still dominated by the lasting effects.

Sent by Rick Lingenfelter | 2:06 PM ET | 11-06-2006

Dear Leroy,

I have found your blog greatly inspirational for work that I am doing on a time-based project for my ceramics class at the Memphis College of Art. For each critique we have, we must also have three research articles as well that pertain to our topic. This is where you have helped me a great deal. (I hope you don't mind) I have read you blog, and look forward to new entries.

I am making hour glasses with cancer cells and tumors on them, and the tops are removed, exposing the sand inside. There are a series of 6 hourglasses, ranging from the onset of cancer (with no cancer cells or tumors on the outside, and a full amount of sand) to the state the body is in when the person passes away (covered with cancer cells and tumors, and no sand on the inside).

My grandmother passed away to cancer a year ago this passed August, and I truly hope and pray for you and your family that everything works out for the best, and that you can come out on top of this.

Sent by Courtney Lollar | 2:08 PM ET | 11-06-2006

Dear Leroy,

I appreciate your openness about chemo brain, asking for suggestions in dealing with it and all the helpful responses. One that wasn't mentioned that I often find helpful is to let myself have a good cry. Often after I feel tired and have a restful nap. At other times it can help with the depression that accompanies the chemo brain. Talking on the phone, responding to e-mails — keeping in touch with loved ones I find helpful during these chemo brain times. Reminding myself that it, like all phenomena, is impermanent is helpful and encouraging because I see that one of the most important truths about life and living hasn't been forgotten dispute my cognitive fog.

Thanks so much for sharing your journey with us.

Sent by Tamara Engel | 10:31 AM ET | 11-09-2006

Thank you for giving me insight into the battle my mother-in-law has been fighting with cancer this year. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and emotions about cancer, and for describing the things she couldn't put into words. In short, thank you for opening up your life with cancer to complete strangers. You are in my thoughts more often than you are on my radio. I wish you continued strength and peace.

Sent by Satasha Thompson | 12:52 PM ET | 11-13-2006

My last chemo treatment was about one and a half years ago. Prognosis is not good, if you believe statistics — 75 percent chance of recurrence. As for chemo brain, my memory has gotten much worse since chemo. I feel I'm going crazy, or suffering from alzheimers. I do know that if/when my cancer returns, I will *not* go through chemo again. I often can't remember what I did the day before. I'm in the midst of a horrid custody battle and my ex is using this against me. Anyone else going through this?

Sent by Kelly Warner | 1:10 PM ET | 11-13-2006

Have any Gleevac users for CML experienced memory loss, short-term memory loss, lack of concentration and distraction, loss of thought in mid conversation. I am experiencing all of these symptoms since starting this chemotherapy.

Sent by Pamela | 8:59 AM ET | 04-29-2007

I had never heard the term until yesterday in our newspaper. I thought, "that's me". I'm a two time survivor, 7 years clean. I had very aggresive chemo, cysplatin sp? I am still having a very hard time remembering things, especially short term. My wife gets mad at me and thinks I'm doing it on purpose, I feel like an idiot. I'm studying for a certification and taking practice tests. When I get an answer wrong I look it up, and right there in my book are notes that I wrote about the RIGHT answer. I have CRS - can't remember s***. My only solution so far is repeat repeat repeat, and write everything down. Good luck to everyone. Rick

Sent by Rick | 7:12 PM ET | 04-30-2007

We are very excited to be doing a prospective study at the UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center in postmenopausal women with breast cancer looking at treatment related cognitive effects with testing and imaging. This study just opened and we hope to shed more light on this very important problem. Your comments are very helpful!

Sent by Hope S. Rugo, MD | 2:47 PM ET | 05-02-2007

I am 2 years out after end of chemo. Still have cognitive difficulties. Took a neurological test and found I am now below average in several functions. It is frustrating, but am grateful to be alive - if I was dead wouldn't have to worry about memory problems or what has been lost. Read literature on cancer before treatment but no mention of long term cognitive losses. I am glad it is finally being studied as it is real.

Sent by Vickie V, OR | 2:05 PM ET | 05-07-2007

hello ,

chemo brain'
it is a very interesting subject that i have just come into contact with. The reason why i say i have only come into contact with it now is because i have been going through with chemo for the last year to two, i am currently 22 and would of loved to of known about this condition/ sideffect prior to treatment.
Prior to treatment i was thinking it was just going to be a downward spiral of mood swings, hair growth and loss, nausia and all the other wonderful things this kind of treatment does to the body.
I was prepared as they say for anything i had to encounter and i think being young helped me in this as i have a great urge to be active as much as possible and do as much as i think i could do with my own motivation, boy was i wrong!

After being diagnosed with an osteosarcoma in my lower left femur it put alot of weight on my shoulders and got me really thinking.
"Will i run again after my operation",
"can i still work, drive, function like a normal young adult",
all the questions were asked and the answers were very possitive.

After an extensive period of self motivating myself to walk again with help from great phsyio's i was back to work to see if life can go on.
The days at work were short lived due to lack of energy, consentration and the stresses of forgeting simple tasks. I personally think that the best things to overcome this 'chemo brain' is to do daily activities not to extensive but something like crosswords, puzzles, reading different materials and watching movies could be enough to keep that part of the brain semi-stimulated instead of not at all.
I truely belive that while during chemo you should try being as active as possible (mentally) to help with the remission period.

"If we can re-train, or teach our body to do things we once were able to do, what difference does that make when
re-stimulating the brain with information."
this is what my physio said when i told him of this condition and i thought it sounded pretty true.

I am so glad to hear that studies on this condition are being done and that people are getting or seeking help for this during the treatment period,not just after.. It will and should help people young and old cope with what they are mentally feeing before during and after treatment..

Sent by iain plastow | 10:37 PM ET | 05-20-2007

I'm just learning about chemo brain as my 85 year old father just completed his second round. (Four to go!)
What is complicating matters is that he is already in the early stage of Alzheimer's and the chemo is making it dramatically worse. Six weeks ago he would get confused driving to places where he went infrequently but had no problems with places to which he drove regularly. A week ago he could find the doctor's office two miles away with written directions and a few days of treatment later he got lost for hours going someplace that he goes to every day. Worse, shortly afterwards he couldn't recall that it even happened. I'm not letting him drive anywhere now and am frantically trying to get some help with transportation and basic care. Nowhere can I find any information on the effect of chemo on patients whose memory is already compromised. I'm scared to death of what four more treatments might do. Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. Ironically, it does seem to be working on the lymphoma because his pain has gone away.
Thanks for posting this blog. While I wouldn't wish this on anyone, it's helpful to know that others have had similar experiences. I wish you well,

Sent by Susan Sanders | 5:44 PM ET | 05-21-2007

We need to get Treatment-Related conditions recognized as a Diagnosis, with a Insurance Code. This is a disabling condition and should be covered medically and financially. It's not a joke.

I am so glad that post chemo effects are finally getting noticed. For 10 years, my doctors are happy; "hey, you're in remission, it's over!" But I am not the same person. The doctors are concerned with my counts and lab results. It's really hard to say "When is the fatigue going away? Why can't I remember what I am doing?" They gave me antidepressants with disastrous results. They wanted to put me in a locked dementia wing.
Now I don't talk to them about brain dysfunction.

My brain was damaged somewhere in the course of 6 rounds of high-dose ARA-C combo, a failed bone marrow transplant, and an experimental treatment accidentally given 9 hours of chemo in 3 hours, went into a semi-comatose state for 3 weeks. This is not your average treatment scenario, so this may not apply to many people.

I really empathize with dementia patients now! You know you are losing it, but can't fix it. But I can talk to dementia and impaired folks - I just smile and look in their eyes and send them love and we just laugh. It's like ESP.

How to cope: I rely on my Sidekick - a mini-computer phone that beeps to notify me when I need to take medication, go somewhere, etc. I would be totally lost without it. I lose words so I don't talk much, but things like forgetting that I just asked my teenage daughter a question, that hurts. I use a navigator when I drive so I don't get lost. My dog who knows my rountine so he reminds me to eat, go for a walk and take a nap. Put your keys on the same hook. Put everything you need in your purse. Keep your purse in the same spot. When I lose something, even trivial, it's so hard not to stop everything and look for that thing as though my life depended on it. It's kind of scary!

The 60 Minutes video of the elder dementia lady getting dumped on Skid Row in L.A. made me cry. Poor gal. How many of us could end up like that?

Sent by Marilyn Martin | 1:17 PM ET | 05-22-2007

My neighbor is 72 and has the worst chemo fog I think I've ever encountered. He had ahd not a lick of chemo for 7 weeks and really had no effects until hia 5th round.Then everything went to hell in a handbasket. He is living in another world.Most of the time he does not know his family or long time friends and is "working" on something that nobody else can see. Has anyone else had these outragous effects? Please let me know, and also have the symptoms been relived. Thank you, Sue T P.S. He had no brain problems before.

Sent by Suzanne Tinker | 1:44 AM ET | 07-17-2007

i am 7 years out from chem and radiation tgherapy can hardly type this comment because the los of funtions, i can no longer make quick decisions that i have to live by in my business, although was able to broker a deal work one million dollars for our retirment in the last three years, not sure how i did it but god led me through process , now thing as back to normal at my business but i am less involved and only work on a conustation basis. i can still work through outher with sucess by coaching them on finacial matters and am able to make a reasonnal income of 100 to 200 thousand dollars a year, but i am in a lot of pain brought on by fibro myalgia, i grow tired non will try to ansuer questions tommorrw, thanks, gof bless

Sent by mje | 9:50 PM ET | 07-22-2007

This from suzanne tinker and am giving an up date of my neighbor. He is coming home with help from hospice as no other out look on his chemo brain. He had been 3 weeks ago had some positive physical therapy but sadly has lapsed into a serious chemo brain fog. God be with all of the people just trying to make a desion to further their lives and not knowing what chemo will do to them. Lots of love to any and all whom have to make this desion when diagnosed with any type of cancer.

Sent by Suzanne Tinker | 1:21 AM ET | 07-25-2007

I was diagnosed with AML 17 years ago. Had high-dose ARA-C and daunarubicyn (sp)for induction. Twice. Then had ARA-C and Novatrone for consolidation. I am very lucky to be around now. I just learned about 'chemo-brain' two weeks ago, but it perfectly describes what I am still experiencing. For 17 years my ears have rung, I have trouble trying to 'multi-task' (what a joke THAT term is), I forget appropriate descriptive words, my short-term memory is non-existent and I often have very little energy. If it weren't for my wife, I'd be completely lost in this life. My only salvation is singing. Even though my ears ring constantly and are getting worse, I somehow manage to enjoy choirs and listening to my favorite music, although the volumn must be turned up much higher than is comfortable for my wife and son. Are there medical professionals investigating the long-terms effects of 'chemo-brain'? If so, I'd love to talk with anyone.

Sent by Gary Rapert | 5:23 PM ET | 07-25-2007

Chemo brain is the worst. I have Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) and I have gone thru intense chemotherapy already ten months, and still have two and a half years of treatment left. My "chemo brian" has not really gone away, and I still struggle to remember and recall things. I just started school the other day, and found it difficult to concentrate and focus. Homework is a bigger task than it was before. I was told to stimulate my brain, and slowly but surely train it back into tip top shape. Love the blog by the way. It, along with the documentary really helped me. Thanks.

Sent by Kyle Holmes | 12:46 PM ET | 08-23-2007

I thought my mom was showing signs of alzheimers. Although she is not real bad, some days she can't even follow a conversation or remember things she has done for years such as "copy and paste" in Word.
It has been more than 5 yrs since her second bout with breast cancer and chemo, but now I think this chemo brain is what is really going on with her.
I read someone say something like 'it's like have a drink or two too many and trying to come out of it'.
I cannot even begin to imagine the feeling and I PROMISE to myself that I will be more patient with my mom when she gets lost in coversation.
Thank you ALL for sharing your stories.

Sent by Lori | 5:04 PM ET | 09-04-2007

this is sadly september and my neighbor has passed as of 4 weeks ago. his chemo brain never lifted. But, he no longer is suffering. Hopefully he is trimming some really cool roses as fall comes home. He is missed and would not want to be as he was, not living and not knowing his family and friends. Love to all of you dealing with chemo brain and hopefully a lot of you will come out of it. suzanne tinker

Sent by suzanne tinker | 1:37 AM ET | 09-15-2007

I just am 7years out of chemo treatments. I just recently learned of chemo brain. I have been telling my oncologist for years that I am still foggy. Some days are worse than others. He never mentioned chemo brain to me, even when I asked him is I should be tested for Alzheimer. He just shrugs it off, everythime I go in for my checkup. I just want to know what I am dealing with and if it is going to get worse. I am terrified that I might make a terrible mistake at my job, so I live in constant fear ans stress. I make lists for everything I do. Everyday I wake up praying that I can make it through another day without making a terrible mistake.

Sent by Carolyn Shaffer | 1:40 PM ET | 10-15-2007

I had chemo and radiation 3 years ago and I have had chrmo fog also. Memories from certain years have disappreared. No one knows why. It's nice to know other people have the same problem. I was getting ready to check myself into a nut house. Be well everyone.

Sent by Margo Russell | 7:23 PM ET | 10-16-2007

Leroy - thanks for sharing on your blog and on the radio broadcasts. It's comforting to hear what other patients have to say and to know that I am not alone. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer on Sept 15th, my 48th birthday. Treatment is going well, but chemo-brain is the most frustrating of my side effects (so far). I am comforted knowing I'm not going out of my mind and that others are willing to share their experiences and feelings.

My best wishes to all cancer patient and their supporting crews/families/friends

Sent by Marti Gallatin | 2:27 AM ET | 10-30-2007

Thank God for this blog!! My husband finished chemo treatment (aggressive) for unnamed-sarcoma - seven treatments, five days each - just six weeks ago. He has developed semi-severe chemo-brain and I thought he was starting Alzheimer's! After reading this blog and the comments, I have hope, relief, and total sympathy for him. I will be very patient, and do everything I can to help him. The doctors consider him in remission, but this fog is very frustrating to him, and almost as bad as the physical side effects of the chemo. Thanks for sharing

Sent by Gail Morgan | 11:25 AM ET | 11-08-2007

I was worried about my short term memory loss and "holes" in my memory, not remembering things from years past that people would remind me of ("No, I don't remember that..."). I am a 4 yr. survivor of colon cancer and underwent 6 months of chemotherapy after surgery. I thought I was just getting senile these past months..but then talked to the oncologist about it, and sure enough, he mentioned "chemo-brain"..thank God I am not getting senile, like I thought I was! I am 66.

Sent by Linda | 11:48 PM ET | 11-11-2007

Yes!! I've been done with chemo/radiation less than a year. Have a wonderful oncologist & am now in remission. BUT after treatment I was tired, weak, fatigued, lacked stamina, concentration -- but oh so happy to be in remission. It took some work to get OT/PT and post chemo counseling.

I had personally developed the term "chemo-brain" to describe my mental misfires. It was reassuring to have a post-chemo counselor validate the term and symptoms and help guide me and my wife in this unknown territory.

Still have fatigue, lack of stamina, memory issues, etc. -- BUT, overall, it is getting better. When I was first diagnosed (11/2005) I adopted the song "AC-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" as my cancer "fight song." It still keeps me focused and going.

Thanks for having this blog.

By the way, for me it has been difficult separating the issues of aging (heading toward 60) and chemo-brain issues. The counselor has helped tremendously. My advice: Get a counselor familiar with post-chemo issues.

Sent by mauri | 10:00 PM ET | 12-05-2007

I was diagnosed with Lung cancer in July of 2006. I am an RN, and am certified in Hospice and Palliative care. I had surgery followed by a cycle of cisplatin and taxotere. After the first cycle I called my oncologist and told him I had chosen to die and did not want any further treatment. Well, I did complete my chemo, but it has left me compromised cognitively. I now longer have the executive fuctioning part of the frontal lobe of my brain. It has been so frustrating even getting doctors to validate the existence of chemo brain. Fortunately, I am now going to a differenct oncologist who is extrememly proactive in his approach to learning all he can regarding chemo brain.
For all those interested you can go to the Moffitt Cancer Center website, go to patient education and there is an interesting lecture by Dr Margaret Booth=Jones...all on chemo brain.
I am now in the process of neuro testing, something that will help identify which part of the brain is effected and what behavior can be expected.
Originally, nurses coined the phrase "chemo brain" in describing the fog.

Sent by Michele Sloma | 10:29 AM ET | 12-15-2007

25 years ago I had a wonderful oncologist - Glenn Warner. When I asked him what the statistics were in cancer like mine, he answered, "100 per cent." I asked what he meant by 100 per cent, and he answered, "100 per cent alive or 100 per cent dead." I think that saved my life. I realized that, no matter what percentage he had told me, I would use it to become even more afraid of cancer and dying. He added, "I can't save you because only you can fill your life with such love and wonder that you just don't have time to die." So, forget that 75% stat. The odds are 100 per cent.

Sent by Sharon | 1:09 PM ET | 02-26-2008

I am 26 and was treated for testicular cancer. My surgery was a little over a year ago now and I will be a year done with chemo as of may. I am struggling with short term memory, attention span, capability to learn new ideas or routines, my preformace at work has been SEVERELY affected. Composing thought, such as in writing this paragraph is difficult. If you are like me you find a great comfort and solace in reading other people's posts here and knowing that you aren't alone. The effects of this are debiliting and can leave you feeling depressed, anxious, emotional, even angry and frustrated with yourself. It almost seems like no matter how hard you try and describe your problem, to either yourself, or someone else, your words or thoughts never quite seem to hit 100% home on what you are trying to say. And even if they did, you would forget what you said 7 minutes later.

I'm headed to the doctor @ Georgetown Lombardi center on Tuesday.. maybe get some meds I guess? Seems to be the only thing you can do, get a prescription for speed. Otherwise, cope and deal. This still seems to be a very misunderstood and underrealized affliction, but to those affected, it is very, very real. /cheers and salutes to those that sail in this ship, it's a tough one.

Sent by Aaron | 9:34 PM ET | 04-03-2008

Thank you for the blog on chemo-brain. After readig others stories, I do not feel alone and lonely. It is hard for those who knew me before chemo brain to understand that in the midst of a conversation, I will forget their name. I have to do things in a specific order to avoid going around in circles looking for my car keys, purse, medicines (Taxoifen) which I have not been to the pharmacy to pick up in 10 days. The long wait in lines, the groups of people and the background noises are very disturbing. One of my friends describe my thinking pattern as "accelerated". Meaning, that before chemo brain, I was extremely congnitive. Now after 3 bouts with Breast Cancer (1991, 2003, 2005), my thoughts move faster than my mouth. So instead of saying what I mean, I will say what I am thinking which is mumble-jumble. Go figure. My solution, after years of tears, fears and dread. I have decided to focus on ONE thing at a time. Not TWO, THREE or More...just one. If I am brushing my teeth and washing my face in the morning, that is what I will continue to do even if the phone or doorbell rings. Why? I am glad that you have asked. Once, I stop doing whatever I was doing, I will forget to go back and complete it. I have burned many pots, meals, etc simply because I answered the phone and forgot that I was cooking. Another thing that I have noticed, if I do not see it (keys, bills, mail, purse, pen, calendar, etc) it does not exist! Then weeks later, I will have a "ah-ha" moment, there is the bracelet and earrings I wanted to wear 5 weeks ago. There are the items purchased weeks ago. In conclusion, I brought in all of my grocercies except for one bag that I forgot in my car. It was a bag of fruit. I continued to smell something, then fruit flies were in my car and I searched for the problem. There was my bag of fruit which fell off of the seat and under the driver's seat. Solution: When shopping shop for food or personal items or clothing or specialty items...do not under any circumstance shop for anything without a list and do not shop for items outside of the categories listed about. In essence...no more fruit flies.

Sent by Tanya Shorter | 8:55 PM ET | 04-07-2008

Hi,
I finished my chemo and radiation two years ago and i still feel foggy at times! also many memories of years gone by have vanished! could be due to old age as i am 55 years!

Sent by Annie | 4:57 PM ET | 05-01-2008

I thank God that I stumbled across this blog today. I was in the process of packing my bags and leaving my husband because I do not know who this man is that I am living with at present. He has Colon Cancer with secondaries in his Liver, Lung and Abdomen. He has been having chemotherapy since Jan. 08, over this time his personality has changed completely. I had put it down to the fact of he can no longer fly, and being an airline pilot this was his life. I made excuses that he would not talk about his condition or the effects and what the future may or may not hold. I see now that this may not even be possible at present.
I have noticed that we cannot be away from home for long periods of time as he becomes tired and that is when chemo-brain kicks in. He changes from a mild mannered, placid man into an obnoxious spoilt child almost demanding attention. In 32 years of marriage he has never ever been like this. It really is like living with a stranger a large amount of the time. I really hope that once the chemo is finished that he returns to "normal".
I have spoken to his Oncologist about his personality changes and while he has been sympathetic, has offered no reason or solution. I see now that there really isn't any except to adjust the life style some more and continue to learn my lesson of patience.
I am beginning to think that Cancer is harder for the family than the patient, and now I know why partly, if Chemo-brain is present the patient has no idea or any kind of reasoning of the effects that it is all having on themselves or those around them.
Once again I am so grateful for stumbling across this blog, so thank you and all the contributors.

Sent by Sharon | 7:35 PM ET | 05-30-2008