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Breast Cancer Chemo Leads to Cognitive Impairment

Wed, 07/19/2000 - 12:00am — Karen Stevenson
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The current issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology has a report from researchers who investigated complaints that breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy have difficulty in their ability to remember, think, and concentrate. The research team was led by Dr. Ian F. Tannock of Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. Tannock's team found that, regardless of the women's mood, age and education, chemotherapy patients did show signs of mental impairment. They believe the cancer drugs may be acting on healthy brain cells, but that is still unclear. Tannock cautioned that this potential side effect should not scare away breast cancer patients, but that they should be fully aware of the possible adverse consequences of chemotherapy. He said, "As an oncologist, one thing that worries me is that some women might use this as an argument against a treatment that can help them."

The current issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology has a report from researchers who investigated complaints that breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy have difficulty in their ability to remember, think, and concentrate. The research team was led by Dr. Ian F. Tannock of Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. Tannock's team found that, regardless of the women's mood, age and education, chemotherapy patients did show signs of mental impairment. They believe the cancer drugs may be acting on healthy brain cells, but that is still unclear. Tannock cautioned that this potential side effect should not scare away breast cancer patients, but that they should be fully aware of the possible adverse consequences of chemotherapy. He said, "As an oncologist, one thing that worries me is that some women might use this as an argument against a treatment that can help them."