What You Need To Know About Chemo Brain

Cancer survivors can go through an indescribably amount of pain, suffering and changes over the years. One of the many aspects that can be affected is the brain as some face thinking and memory problems following treatment. It is this fog, dysfunction and cognitive dysfunction that has become known by cancer survivors as chemo brain.

Although it is a widely used term, it can be misleading as it has not yet been properly associated with chemotherapy. There is still a large percentage of survivors that face memory problems that consistently score high on cognitive tests, which is precisely what leads doctors to believe chemo brain is nothing more than a false assumption.

Despite there being no true evidence that chemotherapy is the direct cause, people continue to make the connection. Because of this, there is a large list of signs, symptoms and causes you may want to be aware of just in case.

As one might expect, chemo brain commonly comes with confusion, disorganization and difficulty fully concentrating on things throughout everyday life. In addition to this, some report having difficulty finding the right word, learning new skills, multitasking, and having a short attention span. Fatigue or even insomnia could be another problem that some face on a day to day basis.

The real confusion behind the term rests within the actual cause. While it is all speculation today, it could be related to chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery among many. And some of the directly related complications that can come from treatment include anemia, fatigue, infection, sleep problems and nutritional deficiencies.

The list of causes and reactions from the treatment is endless, but anxiety and depression can be big emotional reactions that come from this. It is important you keep an eye on your overall mood and how it swings following any kind of radiation or chemotherapy treatments.

To no surprise, there are risk factors that come with treatment as cancer is an extremely serious disease regardless of whether you still have it or are a survivor. The most notable risks to be aware of include brain cancer, chemotherapy that is give directly to the central nervous system, chemotherapy that is combined with whole-brain radiation, radiation therapy to the brain and higher doses of chemotherapy or radiation.

While the exact cause of chemo brain may still be unknown, the pain, symptoms and stress that survivors and patients go through is very real. And for this, it is ever so crucial you understand everything behind it regardless of whether you are a friend, family member or patient yourself

The Different Symptoms of ADHD

ADHD generally refers to problems which most often occurs beginning with children. It is associated with inattentiveness, hyper activity, impulsiveness or a combination of these factors. Let’s talk more about the common causes, symptoms and treatments for this problem.

ADHD is known to be the commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder during childhood. It normally affects about 3 to 5% of school aged children. It also tends to occurs more in boys rather than girls.

There is some speculation that ADHD can be impacted by depression, insomnia, learning disabilities, tic disorders, and behavioral problems. It is important to have all children tested who may be suspected.

It is also fairly well known that ADHD may run in families. And it may be associated with other symptoms. It can also be impacted by external factors such as depression.

The symptoms of ADHD generally fall into three groups. The first group has to do with an overall lack of attention. The second group has to do with hyperactivity and the third group deals with impulsive behavior. It is helpful to ensure that these symptoms are properly addressed.

However let’s review these symptoms in greater detail.
Inattentive symptoms

a.Failing to pay close attention to details or making careless mistakes on the job or at school
b.Difficulty keeping attention during plays or work tasks.
c.The person doesn’t appear to listen when being spoken to
d.The person doesn’t follow through when given instructions.
e.The person is easily distracted
Hyperactivity symptoms

a.The person fidgets with his hands or feet
b.Leaves his/her seat
c.Runs about or plays inappropriately
Impulsivity symptoms

a.Blurts out answers to questions before being asked for a response
b.Shows difficulty in waiting his/her turn
c.Interrupts on others. May butt into a conversation.

These symptoms are serious and can create a great deal of difficulty for the person who is experiencing them. For example people with ADHD generally have difficulty with learning.
However there have been a number of new therapies established to treat this problem. One common form of treatment entails the use of drug therapies such as stimulants. However there is strong move against the use of drugs in children. So many recent therapies focus on behavior modification to achieve improvements. Sleep and treating insomnia are also important to try to help cope with ADHD.

In any case by identifying and dealing with this situation, the best combination of treatments can be structured and implemented.