Chemo Brain

Source:
Science Blog,
a Journal Article at SpringerLink,
USA Today: Posted 10/5/2006

Chemotherapy is rarely the best option as a cancer cure therapy, as it simply does not address the underlying cause. A UCLA study has shown that chemotherapy can change the blood flow and metabolism of the brain in ways that can linger for 10 years or more after treatment. We can call this condition, "chemo brian".

"People with 'chemo brain' often can't focus, remember things or multitask the way they did before chemotherapy," explained Dr. Daniel Silverman, head of neuronuclear imaging and associate professor of molecular and medical pharmacology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "Our study demonstrates for the first time that patients suffering from these cognitive symptoms have specific alterations in brain metabolism."

The study also revealed that women who underwent hormonal therapy in addition to chemotherapy showed changes to their basal ganglia, a part of the brain that bridges thought and action.

The study of breast cancer survivors suggests the mental fog known as chemobrain might last longer than once thought and shows women treated with chemotherapy a decade ago still experience subtle memory problems.

Previous studies have shown cancer survivors who had symptoms of chemobrain sometimes did poorly on memory tests, but the studies did not explain why.

Damage to the Heart

Cardiac Toxicity

Source: Regional Cancer Institute

Chemotherapy drugs are toxins and therefore can cause damage to the heart. As a result of this damage, the heart is unable to pump enough blood to supply the body with essential oxygen and nutrients.

Although several chemotherapy drugs may cause cardiac toxicity, the most common ones are the anthracyclines such as: (Adriamycin®doxorubicin, daunomycin, epirubicin, mitoxantrone and idarubicin). Alkylating agents and vinca alkaloids can also contribute to heart damage.

In addition, radiation therapy to the chest wall or area around the heart can affect the blood vessels supplying the heart, leading to a “heart attack”. Since many patients, especially those with lymphoma or breast cancer receive both anthracycline-based chemotherapy and radiation therapy, there may be a cumulative effect on the heart.

Comment from Cancer Answers: What is cardiac toxicity?

Cardiac toxicity is damage to the muscles of the heart caused by chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer. The damage can occur during or shortly after the completion of therapy. Some chemotherapy drugs can cause heart damage that is only apparent months to years after the completion of cancer treatment.

Ovarian Damage: Chemotherapy-Induced

Source: Breast Cancer Research Programme Website

For many young women with breast cancer, the realization that chemotherapy will most likely render them infertile is devastating. Chemotherapy-related menopause in young women produces intensely unpleasant symptoms and results in low libido and rapid bone loss. The ovarian damage increases with age and drug dose, such that 40-70% of 40-year olds will develop menopause within one year.

Young women who receive chemotherapy to treat breast cancer experience ovarian damage. This damage may prevent subsequent childbearing and may cause side effects of early menopause, e.g., accelerated bone loss, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness. The magnitude of benefit of chemotherapy depends on a woman’s stage and tumor characteristics, while a woman’s odds of infertility or menopause after chemotherapy is primarily influenced by two key factors: age at diagnosis, and the total dose of alkylating drugs (Cytoxan).

In young women, chemotherapy frequently causes infertility and the symptoms of premature menopause. Less ovary-toxic regimens exist, but are not standard in the US. For young women, access to high quality care must include information about treatment options that minimize undesirable permanent side effects. Thus doctors and activists need to learn whether menopause and infertility risks matter to young women, and if they do, physicians need data on less-ovary-toxic alternatives.

When Chemotherapy is Combined with Radiotherapy

Many chemotherapy agents may produce pulmonary injury. Many chemo-drugs have been found to POTENTIATE the damaging effects of radiation on the lung.

Bleomycin, Dactinomycin, Cyclophosphamide, Andriamycin and Vincristine enhance toxicity after irradiation to the lung area.

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