HOW CAN
EXERCISE HELP THOSE EXPERIENCING ' CHEMO BRAIN '?
Oncologist and clinical researcher Dr Nick Zdenkowski discusses ‘ chemo brain ’ and how exercise can benefit cancer patients affected by the condition .
A recent research study conducted in the US discovered that
exercise can help breast cancer patients with ‘ chemo brain ’, a phenomenon that affects up to 75 % of breast cancer patients whilst they are undergoing chemotherapy treatments .
Here , we look at the condition , the study ’ s findings and their implications for cancer patients .
What is chemo brain ?
Chemo brain is not easy to define because it affects people who have had chemotherapy for cancer in a variety of ways . Typically , it manifests as a mild but noticeable decline in cognitive functions , such as problems with short term memory , concentration and ability to find the right word or name .
Patients are often more aware of it than the people around them , making it difficult to measure . Generally , patients complain that they don ’ t have the mental stamina that they used to , or cannot multitask . They might find it more difficult to remember where they parked their car at the shops or to recall the name of an acquaintance .
Whilst it is attributed to chemotherapy , there are a range of contributing factors , including the fact of the diagnosis of cancer ( along with the psychological / emotional impact ); having had surgery ( and anaesthetic ); and , in breast cancer , the hormone blocking treatments that are often given to patients . The end result is greater morbidity and even premature mortality .
Why does it happen ?
We do not know enough about why chemo brain occurs . There are thought to be multiple contributing factors , including direct damage from chemotherapy to brain cells and their connections , damage to the microscopic blood supply of the brain , anaemia , physical fatigue and accelerated brain ageing . This lack of understanding , along with the variety of causes , makes the design and evaluation of prevention and / or treatment challenging .
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