Hi Lee. I have a friend who has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. You're diary's been a lot of help. I am curious to know how long ago were you diagnosed with ovarian cancer and what were the symptoms leading to you being diagnosed? My friend's doctor kind of screwed up and in my opinion dropped the ball. But they are human, too. It's just frustrating to watch somebody you care about go through this. Heck, anybody. I'm trying to understand what my friend's going through. I mean, I'm there with her, but her suffering just stuns me, you know? And I really want to understand. Thanks for the help. And keep the faith, things will get better. You're a good person.

Hi Lee :)

I just have to tell you that I really DO know your pain as far as chemo brain goes.

Fibromyalgia is a condition of tightening muscles causing restriction of movement to avoid the Pain..it also has a huge fatigue factor..and most of us have sleep disorders...AND... most of us suffer from Fibro Fog (chemo brain to you)...Fibro Fog, I believe to be caused by severe sleep loss over years. The lit says that FF causes information to become jumbled on it's way out your mouth...I get dyslexic speech (first letters are jumbled-big kite would be kig bite), ramble on..And there's a terrible short term memory feature that plagues me terribly...so in the midst of talking I forget what I just said or wanted to say...I look like an idiot, I feel like an idiot. My Daughter, Mom, Husband have become used to me listening to them intently and then having to ask, "can you repeat what you just said?" because I lost it, even tho I was concentrating. They comfort me, reminding me that i'm not an idiot...but sometimes it just makes me mad and worse sometimes it makes me sad.
This has kicked up a flurry of I'm not an idiot stuff, so I'll post that on my site, please visit.
You are not an idiot...your body has been traumatized by the disease and the treatment and caused these changes.

Bless your heart! Hope to keep in touch here.
Hugs and Blessings, Judy

My last chemo was July '05 (for breast cancer). It took my husband and I several weeks to figure out I must have chemo brain! I've always been "smarter than the average bear"...this chemo brain thing has been a difficult adjustment. My question is: is it temporary or permanent? I've read conflicting reports. Thanks!

I had breast cancer 10 yrs ago and I had chemo which after reading all of your messages and others I have read on other sites I am so glad to know that it's not me thats acting stupid at times. I have had trouble with my last few jobs in remembering things they tell me while I'm in training. I have felt so stupid and embarrased and I knew something was wrong with my short memory and doing more than one task at a time. I just was let go from my last job of 2 wks ago, so sad and I couldn't imagine why I couldn't remember things I was told about the computer. I have heard about Chemo Brain before and knew something has been wrong for some years now. I'm going to contact my doctor tomorrow and find out if I can claim a dissability since I'm having trouble feeling comfortable with instructions due to the embarrasement. I can't say I have chemo brain to my boss and I have anxiety from the instructions I can't seem to keep in my thoughts.
Glad I got on this site now I know it's not just my stupidity which I thought I was very stupid and it has injured my self esteem and confidence. At job interviews I am lost for the right words and I find myself not being able to converse like I use to due to loss of confidence.

Thanks for the info
Cookie

I was the one to tell my doctor about ChemoBrain. None of my oncologists had ever heard of this before. I'm on FOCALIN for it now. This CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE drug was the focus of a clinical trial in NY, and my former oncologist called the person in charge of the study and described me. He said "Yes, that's chemobrain!"

I felt SO validated!!!

If anyone you are still sufferering from chemo brain please get in touch with me, I am trying to find chemotheraphy survivors who suffer like my self to see if there is a common bond to our condition. Long term survivor here and chemo brain is becoming a major factor in my life. waycho2004@yahoo.com

I was diagnosed with hodgkins two years ago and I too have felt the affects of chemo brain. I knew that it would effect me while on chemo, but I had no idea that it could last years after chemo.

The first time I was diagnosed with breast cancer was in 1989 and I had chemotherapy. I didn’t notice until I went back to work that there was something terribly wrong. I had a hard time speaking, forgetting words, my words would get all mixed up when communicating. I had another round of chemotherapy in 1999 due to breast cancer and things got worst. It was harder to concentrate in meetings. I would have to go back to my desk and talk to someone who was in the meeting or wait until I received the e-mail with the notes from the meeting. Now I’m recently out of work due to outsourcing oversees and I’m terrified of going on interviews because of this condition that I now can put a name to “chemo brain”. I hope that there is a cure for this.

Folk's, my heart and prayers go out to all of you here. You have all been poisioned by the Cancer Industry! Please go to www.newstarget.com and learn the truth about cancer and it's natural cures. You cannot slash, burn and poison a body back to health. My 21 year old daughter went through chemo, but I was determined not to let this poison do her in. i had her on so many different supplements and an all organic diet, plus no suger(cancer thrives on sugar). She never lost her hair or experienced any of chemos deadly side effects. her oncologist could not figure this out.

You might want to watch the feel good news report on chemo brain, follow this link
http://www.drkoop.com/video/93/2428.html

and this one too...

http://cbs2.com/video/?id=26358@kcbs.dayport.com&cid=69
PRESS PLAY WHEN VIDEO ON CHEMO BRAIN APPEARS

Check out this video on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeOATxsE7x0

Posted by: webmizer at October 9, 2006 09:04 AM
I would like to correct a mistake in a posting made some time ago, I was treated 17 years ago, not 2. Type error.
I was diagnosed with hodgkins two years ago and I too have felt the affects of chemo brain. I knew that it would effect me while on chemo, but I had no idea that it could last years after chemo.

Hi,
I just re-read your diary and I was wondering how long your symptoms have lasted. I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's in 1999, relapsed in 2003, and I'm still having problems. Love to hear from you.
Thanks, Gloria