Chemotherapy has long been used as a treatment for various forms of cancer, along with radiation therapy and surgery. For some time, many patients have complained about loss of cognitive functions following doses of chemotherapy, most of which were dismissed by doctors and the medical community as side effects of general fatigue from the harsh trials. However, new evidence has come to light that "chemo brain" is a real condition, and it could change some things about how chemotherapy is carried out.
Chemo Fog
Experiencing some degree of mental acuity loss following or throughout the chemotherapy sessions is not unusual, and provides little reason for worry. However, according to ScienceDaily, the nearly 15 percent of patients who continue to suffer mental impairment weeks and months after chemotherapy has ended have given doctors reason for pause. What's more intriguing is that most of these patients describe nearly the exact symptoms, including a general mental fog, memory problems, and difficulty with numbers and concentration.
History
Until now, many doctors and specialists in the chemotherapy field have dismissed these symptoms as being part of the general fatigue associated with the sometimes brutal trials of the sessions. Chemotherapy takes a toll on the patient's strength, both mentally and physically, and this is almost certainly to blame for much of the short-term mental problems. However, according to The New York Times, more recent studies have shown acute changes in the brain patterns of some patients long after the sessions have ended, conclusively proving that something else is at work.
Theories/Speculation
As the studies into chemotherapy and the brain are still in their infancy, there is no widespread consensus on why this mental impairment is occurring, and why it is only happening in a relatively small sample of patients. However, there are theories that could lead to more definitive explanations in the future. These include some experts who believe that certain chemicals used in chemotherapy might have a direct effect on brain neurons. These experts have been validated in recent years by further studies on humans and animals.
5-Fluorouracil
Though the science is still tentative, recent experiments have pointed to a particular chemical used in some chemotherapy sessions as being a probable cause for chemo brain. This chemical, 5-fluorouracil--or 5-FU for short--is used to stop cell division in cancer patients. But along with destroying cancer cells, scientists have found that this chemical may also be destroying cells in the central nervous system that lead to healthy brain function.
Potential
While chemotherapy remains one of the most powerful tools in the fight against many forms of cancer, doctors are cognizant of the fact that caution will need to be taken moving forward. While it seems likely that certain forms of chemotherapy take a strong toll on central nervous system cells, it remains to be discovered why some chemicals are have more effect than others, and why certain patients are more susceptible to it. When these questions are fully answered, doctors will be able to find ways in which to treat patients without endangering their mental acuity.
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