Some people say they 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, fatigue and sleep problems, or how you feel, such as 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 are having and if they are affecting your day-to-day life or your work.
For more on this, see Changes in thinking and memory, and listen to our podcast below.
Ways to improve concentration
- Use a calendar or smartphone features, such as reminders, alarms or lists to keep track of tasks, medical appointments, when to take medicines, social commitments, birthdays, etc.
- Write down anything you need to remember (e.g. to-do items, 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 partner, family or workplace about changes to your memory and concentration. This can prevent misunderstandings and they may be able to support you.
Podcast: Brain Fog and Cancer
Listen to more episodes from our podcast for people affected by cancer
Key resource
Download a PDF booklet on this topic.
A/Prof Kate Mahon, Director of Medical Oncology, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Katherine Bell, Dietetics Department, Liverpool Hospital, NSW; Brigitta Leben, Dietetics Department, Liverpool Hospital, NSW; Sophie Michele, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Dr Jess Smith, Medical Oncologist, Macquarie University Hospital, NSW; Karene Stewart, Consumer; Julie Teraci, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Skin Cancer and Melanoma, Cancer Network WA.
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