Your Brain on Chemo

This is YOUR brain on CHEMO by Jim Galvanek (DayZerotoIronman.org)

Hi my name is Jim Galvanek and I am an 11 year leukemia survivor.

This is your brain and this is your brain on chemo.


Today the LLS is funding doctors who are doing genetically targeted research that will eventually lead to the elimination of harmful treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. They are doing this by targeted therapies that isolate and attack cancer molecules and killing them and sparing the healthy cells with fewer to no side effects.

As an unrelated bone marrow transplant survivor of leukemia, I am participating in the Wisconsin Ironman to raise money for this life saving research, so no one has to go thru the intense treatment I have endured.

Please help me by Funding the Cure with a donation at www.DayZerotoIronman.org (DZIM) which will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.




Chemo Brain (from www.cancer.org)
For many years cancer survivors have worried about, joked about, and been frustrated with the mental cloudiness they notice before, during, and after chemotherapy. We don't know its exact cause, but this mental fog is commonly called chemo brain. Patients have noticed chemo brain for some time, but only recently have studies been done that could start to explain it.
Research has shown that some cancer drugs can, indeed, cause changes in the brain. Imaging tests have shown that in some patients, the parts of the brain that deal with memory, planning, putting thoughts into action, monitoring thought processes and behavior, and inhibition are smaller after chemotherapy.
Some people report having these symptoms even before they start treatment. Others report it even though they have not had chemotherapy. Still others notice the problem when they are getting hormonal treatments. So the term chemo brain may not be completely accurate, but it is what most people call it right now.
Though the brain usually recovers over time, the sometimes vague yet distressing mental changes cancer patients notice are real, not imagined. These changes can make people unable to go back to their school, work, or social activities, or make it so that it takes a lot of mental effort to do so. They affect daily activities and need to be researched further.
What is chemo brain?
Here are just a few examples of what patients call chemo brain:
forgetting things that they usually have no trouble recalling—memory lapses
trouble concentrating—they can't focus on what they're doing
trouble remembering details like names, dates, and sometimes larger events
trouble multi-tasking, like answering the phone while cooking, without losing track of one of them—less ability to do more than one thing at a time
taking longer to finish things—slower thinking and processing
trouble remembering common words—can't finish a sentence because you can't find the right words
For some people these effects happen quickly and only last a short time, while others have mild, long-term mental changes. Usually the changes that patients notice are very subtle, and others around them may not even notice any changes at all. Still, the people who have problems are well aware of the differences in their thinking. Many people do not tell their health care team about this problem until it affects their everyday life.
Doctors and researchers call chemo brain "mild cognitive impairment" and define it as being unable to remember certain things and having trouble finishing certain tasks or learning new skills.

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[lucrene1112]

ran out of room, we have the cure you please help......check out my page

[lucrene1112]

we have many cures , cannabis proven to kill all kinds of cancer, Vit B17, it was healing so many people the governmentmade a tree illegal, the U.S then Europe out-lawed tthe bitter almond tree, highest in B17 , you ever see anyone put it in there food , like they do somw of the others . " big corps " i am a 40 + childhood brain cancer survivor . pilocyticastrocytoma , ..also raw food , in eat raw food green drinks have had one brain operation , , there are other ways, this is an on purpose

[rockbray]

Brother, you know I will give till it hurts!

[bres2322]

Way to go Jim!