Practical Guide to Lifting the Fog and Getting Back Your Focus
|
|
(HealthNewsDigest.com) – The American Cancer Society projected that there would be 1,427,180 new cases of cancer in the United States in 2008. Most cancer patients are treated with some form of chemotherapy, and an estimated eighty percent of these patients will experience short-term memory loss and confusion as a result of the chemo. For about fifteen percent, these cognitive changes post-chemotherapy—“chemo brain,” as it’s known in the cancer community—will last for years following treatment.
Bringing together Dr. Daniel Silverman, one of the foremost researchers of chemotherapy’s cognitive effects, and Idelle Davidson, journalist and cancer survivor, Your Brain after Chemo provides the first authoritative guide to living with “chemo brain.” From depression and fatigue to lack of concentration and confusion, Dr. Silverman and Davidson discuss what your post-chemo symptoms might mean and how to relieve them. This user-friendly guide presents essential information and advice needed to deal with “chemo brain,” including:
The science behind your brain: In the past, there was no research proving that chemotherapy interfered with the way the brain networked, but a battery of psychological studies shows that neurological decline following cancer treatment that includes chemotherapy is at least partially caused by the chemo. Your Brain after Chemo walks you through these studies, explaining the functions of the parts of the brain, how these functions (and cognitive impairments) differ between men and women, and how the correlation between chemo and brain fog was discovered.
The difference between “chemo brain” and the emotional effects of cancer treatment: Insomnia, fatigue, and lack of focus are all symptoms of anxiety and depression, which are normal and expected side effects of being diagnosed with and treated for cancer. Dr. Silverman and Davidson compare the overlapping symptoms of depression and “chemo brain,” and discuss options in cognitive and drug therapies.
The pros and cons of medical, herbal, and dietary remedies for your symptoms: Medications like Ritalin, Provigil, or Focalin have all been used to treat cognitive impairments following chemotherapy, but the solution may be as simple as ginseng or caffeine, adding more omega-3 fatty acids to your diet, or even getting out of your normal environment and being more mindful of nature. Your Brain after Chemo offers an impartial look at all possibilities so you can decide what action is right for you.
Combining cutting-edge scientific research with personal experiences—including co-author Idelle Davidson’s own battle with “chemo brain”—Your Brain after Chemo provides a nine-step physical, mental, and emotional plan for reclaiming your brain.
DANIEL H. SILVERMAN, MD, PhD, is head of the Neuronuclear Imaging Section in the Ahmanson Biological Imaging Division at UCLA Medical Center, associate director of the UCLA Alzheimer’s Disease Center Imaging Core, and associate professor in the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology. IDELLE DAVIDSON is an award-winning health, medical, and general-interest journalist whose work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times Magazine, Time, Parents, Parenting, and many other publications. She lives in Los Angeles.
August 1, 2009 Hardcover $25.00 284 Pages Health / Cancer ISBN: 978-0-7382-1259-3
Subscribe to our FREE Ezine and be eligible for Health News, discounted products/services and coupons related to your Health. We publish 24/7.
HealthNewsDigest.com