Your Brain After Chemo: A Practical Guide to Lifting the Fog and Getting Back Your Focus, by Dan Silver, MD, PhD and Idelle Davidson, is a nice resource for anyone who has gone through chemotherapy for colon cancer.
I've worked with many people who have been treated for colon and other cancers in my former roles as a dietitian and research epidemiologist. I can tell you that "chemobrain" is real.
Is Chemobrain All in Your Head?
Over and over I heard, "I just can't think straight anymore. I can't remember facts and figures the way I used to. I can't recall names of people I've met. I definitely can't multi-task anymore. But you know what the worst part of it is? Nobody believes me! My doctor doesn't take this seriously."
Certainly, as a dietitian, I was not qualified to counsel patients on issues surrounding impaired cognitive (brain) function and the mental after effects of chemotherapy. However, I definitely felt compelled to help people find resources for coping with these issues.
When I was working in a cancer clinic in the early 2000s, there weren't many resources available. That was the bad news. Fortunately, Your Brain After Chemo, published in 2009, now is available. This book offers help to those struggling with chemobrain.
Coping with Chemobrain - Pros of Your Brain After Chemo
The book is a collaborative effort between a neuroscientist and a cancer survivor who knows about chemobrain first-hand. You will find valuable information, including:
- The reassurance that you are not alone. Just knowing this can help you gather the courage to tackle this side effect of cancer care.
- How to manage all of the other factors that can worsen chemobrain, such as fatigue, depression, hormonal changes, insomnia, and fear and stress.
- The very practical steps you can take to sharpen your brain function, including how to work around lingering effects that chemotherapy has on your mental function.
- A clear-cut plan of attack for dealing with chemobrain (changes in cognitive (brain) function after chemotherapy), with step-by-step instructions, worksheets, and organizational tips.
Cons of Your Brain After Chemo
There are not many downsides to this book. The tips and ideas for coping with chemobrain are manageable and helpful. However, if you are interested in the detailed science behind chemobrain, you may be disappointed by the lack of illustrations and medical images to support the explanations of chemobrain.
If "how to" guides aren't your thing, Your Brain After Chemo may not be a good fit for you either.
