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Does chemo damage the brain?

Page last modified on: December 3, 2008
Question from Dayse: Does chemotherapy damage the brain? And is it reversible?
Answer —Christina Meyers, Ph.D., A.B.P.P.: There are a couple of answers to this. Animal models show that some chemotherapy agents can damage the brain. They study rodents who are genetically all the same. Humans are not genetically all the same, and so what we know is some people have no problem, some have moderate, and some have severe problems. So there may be a genetic reason for this. Even though there is some evidence that some chemotherapy agents can cause brain injury, again, it's from genetically related animal models and you can't just transfer that to what happens to people.

On Wednesday, October 15, 2008, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Managing Chemo Brain. Christina Meyers, Ph.D., A.B.P.P. and George Sledge, M.D. answered your questions about how long chemo brain can last, what treatments can be helpful, and current research on cognitive effects of breast cancer treatment.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Christina Meyers, Ph.D., A.B.P.P. is a board certified neuropsychologist. She created the Neuropsychology Service in the newly formed Department of Neuro-Oncology at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in 1984.

George Sledge, M.D.George Sledge, M.D. is the Ballvé-Lantero Professor of Oncology at Indiana University at Indianapolis, where he co-directs Indiana University Simon Cancer Center's Breast Cancer Program.

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