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Chemo brain treatments being developed?

Page last modified on: December 3, 2008
Question from Izzard: What therapies or treatments are being developed to treat the long-term effects of chemo brain? I am 3 years out of treatment and still suffering cognitive difficulties which impact my job. Thanks.
Answers —Christina Meyers, Ph.D., A.B.P.P.: I just have to say that there are no specific treatments for cancer patients. We borrow from the brain injury field and other neurologic illnesses. There is nothing really specific to cancer, but we go with what is evidence-based in other neurological conditions and we apply it to cancer patients.
George Sledge, M.D.: If indeed we get better at diagnosing this on a routine basis and doing functional neuroimaging, that points to specific defects. Let’s imagine 5 years from now we know on a reliable basis that chemotherapy drug X causes a particular effect in this part of the frontal lobe. Once we have those diagnostic techniques in place, then we can think about developing interventions that might interfere with those things we see in imaging. There's a lot of work to tie imaging to the other functional tests we do, but I think we'll get there soon and be able to come up with interventions that may reverse that.
Christina Meyers, Ph.D., A.B.P.P.: I agree, and that's the direction that it's going in.

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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