Chemo brain is a term cancer survivors use to describe thinking and memory problems that may happen during and after cancer treatment. Emotional and mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, stress, and having trouble sleeping can add to that foggy feeling. Chemo brain can also intensify feelings of frustration or anger.
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Are you prepared for the emotional effects of chemotherapy?
If you're starting chemotherapy, you may already know about the effects on your body, like nausea and fatigue. But are you prepared for the emotional changes that may come along with treatment? "They can be hard to predict," says Susan Englander, a clinical social worker at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
Can chemo affect a person mentally?
Can chemo affect a person mentally? Chemotherapy can affect a person’s mood, as can other medications such as steroids. It is important that you and your husband inform his doctor of changes in his mood to rule out any medical causes.
What happens to your emotions after cancer treatment?
Some describe the period after cancer treatment as one of the most emotional times of their lives. This can be confusing. Most cancer patients are not surprised by strong emotions during treatment. However, they can be surprised when new or old emotions occur after treatment is completed. Understanding these feelings can help you manage them.
What happens to your body when you start chemotherapy?
Some chemo drugs may even increase your risk for heart attack. These problems are less likely to occur if your heart is strong and healthy when you start chemotherapy. The central nervous system controls emotions, thought patterns, and coordination.
How does chemotherapy affect you emotionally?
Coping with Chemo Brain Emotional and mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, stress, and having trouble sleeping can add to that foggy feeling. Chemo brain can also intensify feelings of frustration or anger.
Can chemo change a person's personality?
Sometimes people with cancer worry about, joke about, or become frustrated by what they describe as mental cloudiness or changes they might notice before, during, and after cancer treatment. This cloudiness or mental change is commonly referred to as chemo brain (or chemobrain).
Can cancer turn off their emotions?
Loss of control. Being told you have cancer can be overwhelming and you may feel that your emotions are out of control. It may also seem that you are losing control of your life – some people feel helpless or powerless.
Can chemotherapy cause behavior problems?
Chemo brain is a common term used by cancer survivors to describe thinking and memory problems that can occur during and after cancer treatment. Chemo brain can also be called chemo fog, cancer-related cognitive impairment or cognitive dysfunction.
How do people get mentally through chemo?
Preparing Your Mind for ChemotherapyBe prepared, not scared. ... Keep talking to your oncology team. ... Get back-up. ... Speak up about what you need. ... Arrange for help at work. ... Get financial counseling. ... Prepare a comfort bag to bring with you. ... Engage in self-care.
Can chemo affect my partner?
Remember – the changes to your sex life don't usually last long. There's usually no medical reason to stop having sex during chemo. The drugs won't have any long term physical effects on your performance or enjoyment of sex. Cancer can't be passed on to your partner during sex.
How does cancer affect someone emotionally?
A cancer diagnosis can affect the emotional health of patients, families, and caregivers. Common feelings during this life-changing experience include anxiety, distress, and depression. Roles at home, school, and work can be affected. It's important to recognize these changes and get help when needed.
How can I feel my emotions again?
What to do when you feel numbMove your body. Emotional numbness may feel like being “frozen” for some people. ... Talk it out. Sometimes, when we feel like we have no one to talk to, we shove our uncomfortable emotions down because we feel safer that way. ... Try grounding exercises. ... Release pent-up anger. ... Learn about emotions.
What emotions does a cancer patient go through?
Other common emotions experienced by cancer patients include:Feeling overwhelmed. Being diagnosed with cancer may make some people feel as if their life is out of control. ... Anger. This may stem from fear, frustration, anxiety, and helplessness. ... Stress and anxiety. ... Sadness and depression. ... Loneliness. ... Hope and gratitude.
How long does chemo brain last after treatment?
Does chemobrain ever go away? For most patients, chemobrain improves within 9-12 months after completing chemotherapy, but many people still have symptoms at the six-month mark. A smaller fraction of people (approximately 10-20%) may have long-term effects.
Can chemotherapy cause bipolar disorder?
Mania secondary to chemotherapy is seldom seen in the literature, and medication-induced mania is relatively rare overall. However, corticosteroid use is one of the more common causes. Indeed, the most common adverse effects of short-term corticosteroid use are euphoria and hypomania.
How long after chemo does your body get back to normal?
Most people say it takes 6 to 12 months after they finish chemotherapy before they truly feel like themselves again.
How does cancer affect your emotions?
Your Emotions after Treatment. Just as cancer treatment affects your physical health, it affects the way you feel , think, and do the things you like to do. Besides causing many emotions that may surprise you, the treatment may actually change the way your brain works. Just as you need to take care of your body after treatment, ...
How to sort out your feelings about cancer?
You can still sort out your feelings by thinking about them or writing them down on paper.
How to reduce stress after cancer treatment?
Many survivors have found activities like the ones below useful in dealing with cancer and their worries after treatment ends. Ask your doctor, nurse, social worker, or local cancer organization about taking part in activities like these. Exercise.
What are the fears of cancer patients?
This is one of the most common fears people have after cancer treatment. Even years after treatment, this fear may always be in the back of their minds. For some, the fear is so strong that they no longer enjoy life, sleep well, eat well, or even go to follow-up visits.
How to improve memory after cancer treatment?
See if any of these ideas work for you: Get a notebook or pocket calendar and use it to plan your day. You can write down each task, how long it will take, and where you need to go. Plan the whole day, including night hours.
What does it mean to be open to emotions?
Express feelings of fear, anger, or sadness. Being open and dealing with their emotions helps many people feel less worried. People have found that when they express strong feelings like anger or sadness, they are more able to let go of these feelings.
Is it normal to feel cut off from other people after cancer treatment?
You also may feel that only others who have had cancer can understand your feelings. Feelings like these are normal any time you leave people who mean a lot to you. It is also normal to feel somewhat cut off from other people—even family and friends—after cancer treatment.
How to cope with life after cancer?
Life after cancer can be as stressful as treatment . Family life, work, finances, and staying healthy are a lot to deal with. Some ways to reduce stress are listed below. Try these or other approaches, and find out which work best for you.
What is the meaning of "chemo brain"?
You may have heard about “chemo brain.” Chemo brain is a term cancer survivors use to describe thinking and memory problems that may happen during and after cancer treatment. Emotional and mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, stress, and having trouble sleeping can add to that foggy feeling. Chemo brain can also intensify feelings of frustration or anger. That’s OK. These feelings can be managed.
What happens after cancer treatment?
After treatment is done, you can experience a mix of reactions. Often the emotions are positive. You may have discovered new personal strength and deepened relationships with loved ones during treatment. Your friends and family are happy for you and want you to return to life as it was before cancer.
How do cancer survivors feel?
Uncertainty: Cancer can leave you feeling unsure about the future condition of your health. Most cancer survivors live with some feelings of uncertainty. For example, you may feel nervous before medical follow-up appointments. An important date, such as the date of diagnosis or the date you completed treatment, might bring these feelings out. Ask your health care provider to help you develop a follow-up health care plan. A care plan may lessen feelings of uncertainty and help you know what to expect. Some survivors find that staying focused on the present is helpful. Living this way can help you avoid worrying about things that may never happen.
How do survivors cope with cancer?
Some survivors need help adjusting to strong emotions after they complete cancer treatment. Each person will react in his or her own way. In time, it generally becomes easier to deal with emotions. Other life events may begin to require more attention. Often, less time needs to be focused on the cancer experience.
How do cancer survivors protect themselves?
After the stress of treatment, you may feel unable to take on anything more. Some survivors protect themselves by shutting down their feelings for a while.
What are the concerns of cancer survivors?
Anxiety: Some survivors experience worry or anxiety right after treatment ends. You may have concerns about how cancer could affect your future. Concerns about physical appearance: Physical changes during treatment may bring concerns about the way you look. There may be worries about what others might think.
How long does spiritual distress last after cancer?
It may continue for many years after cancer treatment is over. Spiritual distress can begin if life becomes very different from the way you thought it would be or should be. Some survivors may redefine values and goals during such a time. A search for what now gives life quality and meaning can take place.
Is the period after cancer treatment emotional?
Go to Slide 5. But there can also be feelings that aren’t positive. Some describe the period after cancer treatment as one of the most emotional times of their lives. This can be confusing. Most cancer patients are not surprised by strong emotions during treatment.
How Cancer May Change Things
In some ways, you will be more mature. You may think what your friends worry about is trivial. Dealing with cancer clarifies what is truly important in life.
Relationship with Parents
Being a cancer patient may have caused you to be more dependent on your parents than you would have been otherwise.
Talking with Others about Cancer
You may not know how you will want to talk about your cancer treatment with other people in your life.
Take Charge of Emotional Health
You can expect to experience a wide range of emotions. It is normal to feel:
Reach Out for Help
As you approach the end of treatment and make the transition back home, talk about your feelings with your care team. Psychologists, social workers, child life specialists, and chaplains can be helpful. They can also refer you to support groups where you can talk to other patients and survivors about what you’re going through.
School Provides Normalcy
Returning to school after treatment is one of the most important milestones for childhood cancer patients. Many patients can attend school while still in treatment. They are encouraged to return to school as soon as they are medically able.
Immunity and Chemotherapy Recovery
When chemo wipes out cancer cells, it takes a lot of healthy cells with them. Many of these cells help fight off infection. It’s well known that our immune systems are suppressed during chemo treatment. What you may not know is that immunosuppression also continues for up to 12 months post-treatment.
Emotions and Chemotherapy Recovery
A cancer diagnosis is a life or death situation, and naturally, it brings up strong and painful emotions. Emotional and social support is crucial during and after treatment to help survivors process intense and difficult, yet completely understandable feelings. If the emotions become too overwhelming, it may be time to seek out support.
Other Effects and Resources
Recovery after chemotherapy takes time, and some of the effects may be with you long after treatment is done. Your immunity, energy levels and emotional health are just three among the many late effects of chemotherapy. You may also find you have “chemo brain” or physical problems with internal organs.
How does chemotherapy affect your mood?
Chemotherapy can affect a person’s mood, as can other medications such as steroids. It is important that you and your husband inform his doctor of changes in his mood to rule out any medical causes. The change in his personality may also be a sign that he is still struggling emotionally with his diagnosis and treatment.
Is it a good idea to seek counseling?
Seeking couple’s counseling is also a good idea if you are having difficulties communicating with each other. The end of treatment often can lead to many strong and conflicting feelings. When a person is first diagnosed with cancer, he/she is often focused on learning about the diagnosis and getting through treatment.
What to do if you have anxiety and depression?
If you have concerns about damage to your nervous system or if you are experiencing anxiety, depression, anger or other mental health problems, don ’t hesitate to talk to your doctor. The sooner you make your physician aware of your concerns, the sooner you can be treated effectively.
What to do if you are depressed?
If you are experiencing depression or anxiety, discuss this with your doctor. He or she may be able to prescribe medication for you to alleviate these symptoms. If your depression or anxiety is severe, you might want to discuss receiving treatment in a mental health facility.
Does chemotherapy kill cancer cells?
The chemicals used in chemotherapy attack and kill healthy cells along with cancer cells. They cannot differentiate. Both the cancer itself and the chemotherapy can lead to neurological problems. The trauma to nerves and the nervous system can include reduced mental alertness, numbness or tingling in the extremities, ...
Can cancer cause mental health issues?
The trauma of having cancer and going through treatments can also cause mental health problems. In this Mental Health Guide article, you will learn about chemotherapy, what you can expect when going through treatments and if treatments can cause mental illness issues. The chemicals used in chemotherapy attack and kill healthy cells along ...
Can cancer cause eating disorders?
Treatments can also cause changes in how things smell or taste, leading to eating disorders in some patients. Mental Health Effects of Cancer and Chemotherapy. Many cancer patients may develope depression or have anxiety problems while going through treatments. These are common when fighting cancer. If you are experiencing depression ...
Does chemotherapy affect mental health?
Chemotherapy is strong medicine and it can cause damage to a person’s nervous system. This damage can lead to hospitalization for treatment and therapy. Will chemotherapy affect your mental health? It might. The trauma of having cancer and going through treatments can also cause mental health problems. In this Mental Health Guide article, you will ...
Managing Your Emotions
After cancer treatment, it's possible to face problems like depression, anxiety, and even posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A visit to the doctor's office can sometimes be the trigger for emotional upheaval. When it's time for your post-cancer checkup, it's good to have tips on hand to manage the stress. You can:
Safeguard Your Mental Health
Once you've had cancer, it's natural to wonder if it's going to come back someday. Normal pains and twinges you would have overlooked before your cancer diagnosis may make you anxious now.
Plan for a Positive Future
To keep tabs on your mental health and curb anxiety, anger, and depression for the long term, try these strategies:
What body systems are most affected by chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy drugs can affect any body system, but the following are most susceptible: digestive tract . hair follicles. bone marrow. mouth. reproductive system. It’s worth understanding how these cancer drugs can affect your major body systems.
How long does it take for hair to grow after chemo?
Hair loss can occur anywhere on the body, from eyebrows and eyelashes to your legs. Hair loss is temporary. New hair growth usually begins several weeks after the final treatment.
Why is blood count important for chemo?
Routine blood count monitoring is a crucial part of chemotherapy. That’s because the drugs can harm cells in the bone marrow, where red blood cells are produced. Without enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to tissues, you may experience anemia.
Why do you need platelets for chemo?
They help prevent illnesses and fight infections. Symptoms aren’t always obvious, but you might find yourself getting sick more often than you used to. Be sure to take precautions to avoid exposure to viruses, bacteria, and other germs if you’re taking chemo. Cells called platelets help blood clot.
Does chemotherapy cause hot flashes?
Sexual and reproductive system. Chemotherapy drugs are known to alter hormones in both men and women. In women, hormonal changes can bring on hot flashes, irregular periods, or sudden onset of menopause. You may experience dryness of vaginal tissues that can make intercourse uncomfortable or painful.
Does chemo cause bone loss?
Most people lose some bone mass as they age, but with chemo, some drugs increase this loss by causing calcium levels to drop. Cancer-related osteoporosis tends to affect women more than men, especially post-menopausal women and those whose menopause was brought on suddenly due to chemotherapy.
Does chemotherapy affect digestion?
Some of the most common side effects of chemotherapy affect digestion. Dry mouth and mouth sores that form on the tongue, lips, gums, or in the throat can make it difficult to chew and swallow. Mouth sores also make you more susceptible to bleeding and infection.