'Chemo Brain' Is a Big Problem, According to Breast Cancer Patients
Results in those with prior mental health issues
The study also found an implicit link to chemo brain in patients who had exhibited anxiety and depression symptoms before receiving chemotherapy. These patients were more likely to be impacted by chemotherapy, and tended to report higher scores, although the study did not specifically test for the effects of anxiety and depression in cancer treatment.
Cognitive decline was also found to be more significant if the breast cancer patient was a black individual, or if the patient was younger rather than older. In terms of factors ruled out, breast cancer patients who received hormone therapy or radiation treatment following their chemotherapy treatment did not report significantly different scores than those who solely underwent chemotherapy.
