The brain is the central organizing organ that coordinates all of the bodies’ functions. Cancer treatment-related adverse events lead to central nervous system (CNS) degradation (Kovalchuk, & Kolb, 2017). Chemotherapy-induced cerebral impairment, often referred to as chemo brain, corresponds to symptoms such as amnesia, blurry psychological vision, and difficulty making decisions that develop during and perhaps after cancer therapy (Nguyen & Ehrlich, 2020). El-Agamy et al. (2019) elaborated that chemo brain is a concept that describes a frequent adverse event that occurs in a significant subset of people with cancer subjected to chemotherapy treatment. This condition significantly impairs survivors’ wellbeing and prohibits them from regaining their pre-cancer lives.
To educate the patients and their families about the effects of chemotherapy, the following techniques would prove worthwhile. First, since chemotherapy can cause fatigue to patients, this weariness may or may not intensify as they have subsequent chemotherapy rounds. Instructing patients to attend the patient and family cancer support center sessions on tiredness regulation would resolve such issues. Thus, this occurs as most cancer patients will have to align their job and family duties because the variability will vary greatly. Second, since most family members and patients believe that hair loss is the most challenging part of treatment for cancer, encouraging them that it is a temporary situation greatly reduces anxiety among patients.
Additionally, not all chemotherapy medications induce hair loss, so discussing their expectations with healthcare providers is essential. Lastly, suggesting a healthy diet, particularly when it comes to poor appetite and nutrients. Chemotherapy patients may have alterations in taste and appetite, as well as a higher susceptibility to fragrances. By informing them on the value of healthy living and helping them to make appropriate lifestyle and diet choices, they will be better equipped to deal with the impacts of chemotherapy-induced appetite loss.
References
El-Agamy, S. E., Abdel-Aziz, A. K., Ahmed, E., & Azab, S. S. (2019). Chemotherapy and cognition: Comprehensive review on doxorubicin-induced chemo brain. Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology, 84(1), 1-14. Web.
Kovalchuk, A., & Kolb, B. (2017). Chemo brain: From discerning mechanisms to lifting the brain fog – an aging connection. Cell Cycle, 16(14), 1345-1349. Web.
Nguyen, L. D., & Ehrlich, B. E. (2020). Cellular mechanisms and treatments for chemo brain: Insight from aging and neurodegenerative diseases. EMBO Molecular Medicine, 12(6), e12075. Web.