Long-Term Cognitive Dysfunction in Cancer Survivors
“Brain Fog“ is an innocuous term for a problem, which is common to many patients with cancer and yet little recognised or understood. Cognitive decline causes patient distress and complications for management of the disease.
This exhaustive article (21,000 words, three times the length of most scientific papers) looks at the prevalence, cause and possible treatment of dementia in cancer patients. Most of the data has been collected from patients with breast cancer but the disorder is recognised in cancer patients of all types, including ovarian cancer.
The prevalence is unknown but has been described in many studies as between 15 and 75% of patients. Causes may include age, genetic predisposition, damage to the biome and metabolic consequences of the cancer or chemo. Treatment focuses on rehabilitation, exercise, mindfulness, and non-conventional drug therapy. Depression should be diagnosed and treated when present, as this will reduce dementia.
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