Cognitive Impairment

Of all the questions I receive from my readers, this is one that's most frustrating for me - and often for them! One explanation is that oncologists don't keep up with the medical literature. If indeed that is the case, there's no excuse. Although the study of cancer-related cognitive impairment is still a relatively new area of science, there is an abundance of research - reported in top journals - supporting the connection between cancer, cancer treatment and memory impairment and other cognitive issues.

Another explanation is that oncologists are more focused on cure rates than quality of life. They see so-called, "chemo brain" as a non-medical issue and therefore not their concern. But cancer-related cognitive impairment is a potentially serious side effect that doctors need to discuss with their patients from the get-go.