It’s common for people to have difficulty concentrating, focusing and remembering things after they have had chemotherapy. This is called cancer-related cognitive impairment. Other terms used to describe this include “chemo brain”, “cancer fog” and “brain fog”.
Thinking and memory changes may be caused by treatment or medicines, the cancer itself, fatigue and sleep problems, or feeling stressed or depressed. These problems usually improve with time, although some people can experience issues for years. Tell your doctor about any thinking and memory changes you’re having.
Learn more about changes in thinking and memory, and listen to our podcast on brain fog and cancer below.
How to manage thinking and memory changes
- Use a calendar or smartphone features, such as reminders, alarms or lists, to keep track of tasks, appointments, when to take medicines, birthdays, etc.
- Write down anything you need to remember (e.g. where you parked the car).
- Focus on one thing at a time (try not to multitask).
- Aim to get 7–8 hours of sleep each night. Deep sleep is important for memory and concentration.
- Do light exercise every day to help you stay alert and sleep better.
- Learn a new skill (e.g. take up a new hobby or do crosswords or puzzles).
- Talk to your family or workplace about changes to your concentration and memory. This can prevent misunderstandings and help them support you.
- Ask your doctor about online brain training programs, such as memory games or problem solving.
Podcast: Brain Fog and Cancer
Listen to more episodes from our podcast for people affected by cancer
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Key resource
Download a PDF booklet on this topic.
Prof Desmond Yip, Senior Staff Specialist, Department of Medical Oncology, The Canberra Hospital, ANU School of Medicine and Psychology, ANU College of Health & Medicine, The Australian National University, ACT; Gillian Blanchard, Nurse Practitioner, Calvary Mater, Newcastle, NSW; Ken Colbert, Consumer; Laura Collins, Clinical Dietitian, GenesisCare, WA; Karen Gray, Consumer; Kate Lucking, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Louise Moodie, Director of Dietetics, Mackay Hospital and Health Service, QLD; Dr Shivanshan Pathmanathan, Medical Oncologist, Townsville Cancer Centre, Townsville University Hospital, QLD; Dr Marissa Ryan, Acting Consultant Pharmacist (Cancer), Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD; Jayne Watson, Clinic Nurse Consultant, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC; Stephanie Webster, Consumer.
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