What Really Causes 'Chemo Brain'?

What Really Causes 'Chemo Brain'?

Some patients treated with chemoatherapy can suffer from a loss of ability to concentrate or remember.  This syndrome, informally called 'chemo brain', has been shown to also affect patients treated with radiation. A recent study looked at mental function in women with early stage (stage 0-II) breast cancer.

The researchers found that patients treated with chemotherapy, radiation or both had similar problems with their mental function, even up to three years after treatment.  The results indicate that chemotherapy itself may not be responsible for 'chemo brain'.  The syndrome may be due to other long-lasting effects of treatment, including fatigue.