Finally, Hope for Treating Chemobrain

Hi everyone,
I am new to this forum, and I am writing at the suggestion of the great people at Joan's Legacy.

My mother is a non-smokers lung cancer survivor, and has been in remission for three years.

I am writing to let you know about a project that I am working on that I am very passionate about. My mom, like so many other survivors who go through chemo, suffered from Chemobrain. The condition was extremely frustrating to her and there appeared to be no solution--until now.

There has been a recent wonderful new development in cancer after-care, by Posit Science. Posit developed the Brain Fitness Program, a computerized brain exercise program that restores memory loss and concentration. The product was originally developed to combat normal memory loss due to aging and dementia. In fact, Ted Kennedy just asked the company to present their findings to Congress!

The great news, is that a recent pilot study, showed significant results for the Brain Fitness Program in treating Chemobrain.

I am including some excerpts from a woman named Catherine. She is the breast cancer survivor, who prompted Posit Science to conduct the pilot study on Chemobrain.

As a survivor who suffered from Chemobrain, she explains her journey to recovery, much better than I ever could.

Cate writes, "There were all too numerous, documented side-effects of chemotherapy; though, strangely enough, many that I had thought would effect me most turned out, in the end, not to be so bothersome.

Hair, I discovered, grew back over time, though I have yet to recover the long mane I had once been so proud of. Headaches, nausea, vomiting, unexplained muscle pain and loss of sensation (otherwise known as neuropathy); all of these could be mitigated through medication and patience.

The one aspect of chemotherapy I was petrified to uncover, however, was the concept of "chemobrain"; or a loss of short and long term memory, accompanied by sluggishness; sometimes referred to by neuropsychologists as a delayed "speed of information processing".

The implications of not "having my wits about me", even transiently, was terrifying—how could I cope with memory and attention loss and maintain responsibility for my child? How could I continue to be our sole source of income if I couldn't remember what I'd just done, or, even worse, what I was expected to do next?"

Cate goes on to describe how she found Chemobrain to be well-documented, but found few treatments that reversed its symptoms. Her physicians suggested medications, but she opted for the route of "cognitive remediation", which strengthens other parts of the brain in order to compensate for those not working properly.

After trying exercise, cooking classes, puzzles, etc., she unfortunately noticed no improvement-- that is, until she started the Posit Science Brain Fitness Program.

"Almost two weeks into the program, I began to notice tangible effects. Although my medical regimen had certainly not decreased, nor had my demands of daily living, my need for planning out my life in fifteen minute increments (think the life of an attorney), noticeably declined.

When co-workers spoke to me, and I participated in team meetings, I was able to relate to, retain, and communicate relevant information more effectively to my staff. By week three, I was no longer relying on my cell phone's address book to contact colleagues or friends: I could recall nine-digit phone numbers from memory for the first time in over a year. And, upon my completion of the program, my son remarked to me, "Mom, I don't have to repeat myself around you any more; that's pretty cool."

That was the outcome that truly has made me hooked; the moment I became a "believer", if you will. Three months after finishing the 10 week computer-training program, these benefits persist; and, if my luck does as well, I believe that my memory and attention will continue to improve."

Cate actually wrote this article a few years ago, and continues to credit the Brain Fitness Program for helping her get her life back.

I am hoping that there is place for the Chemobrain story to be told. It is unfortunate so many people suffer in silence when there is a scientifically proven non-invasive treatment available.

If anyone has ideas about spreading the word, please let me know. Posit is happy to make donations of the Brain Fitness Program for fundraisers and to speak to organizations.


Best,
Marlene