Mental impairment and breast cancer

More than a third of women with breast cancer may have some degree of cognitive impairment before undergoing chemotherapy. This suggests that the disease itself rather than the treatment may be responsible for so-called chemobrain. Chemotherapy has been linked to changes in mental functioning in women with breast cancer, but neuropsychological functioning has rarely been measured before treatment.Researchers from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, evaluated data from three separate studies that examined the effects of different treatments on the mental abilities of women with breast cancer. All the women underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation before treatment.Approximately 35 percent of women were classified as having an impaired Cognitive Function Index before beginning chemotherapy. Changes were most apparent in verbal learning and verbal memory, as well as attention. About a quarter of the women reported symptoms of anxiety or depression that indicated clinically significant distress. These women were also more likely to show cognitive impairment.Chemobrain is real and it is caused by cancer, cancer treatment, or other underlying medical conditions (borderline anaemia, thyroid dysfunction, etc.), and it can be treated.There are a number of things that can cause symptoms, so identification of what is wrong and why, is important to guide interventions. The team is looking at how these symptoms develop and who gets them, so they can develop targeted and effective treatment.