Concentration and memory problems after bowel cancer treatment

Cognitive means thinking or the way we process information. Impairment or dysfunction means that something isn’t working.

At the moment it’s not clear which treatments may cause these problems, or whether they may be caused by the cancer itself or by emotions such as anxiety| and depression|.

Because changes in memory and thinking were first noticed in people who’d had chemotherapy|, the terms ‘chemobrain|’, or ‘chemofog’, are sometimes used to describe these changes. However, these terms may be misleading as changes in memory and concentration can also happen in people who have had cancer, but have never had chemotherapy.

Changes in memory or in the ability to concentrate are usually mild and often get better within a year of finishing treatment.

Occasionally these changes can go on for longer or have more marked effects on daily activities.

Here are some examples of the difficulties people describe:

• difficulty in concentrating and focusing (feeling foggy)
• feeling mentally slower than before and finding it hard to take things in
• forgetting details of conversations or events that you’d usually have no problem remembering
• mixing up dates and appointments and not being able to find things easily
• difficulty doing more than one thing at a time (multitasking)
• struggling to find everyday words or phrases.

If you’re having these problems it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about them. They will check if your symptoms are connected to any other causes. This can include the cancer itself, or the side effects of other treatments or medicines that you may be taking. Your doctors may decide to do some tests, such as blood tests or a scan, to investigate further. There may also be other factors contributing to your symptoms and having these treated could help.

Fatigue| (extreme tiredness) is a common side effect of treatment and can cause problems with concentration and memory. Managing or treating fatigue| may help improve these problems.

Anxiety, stress and depression can all cause difficulty with memory and concentration. These symptoms aren’t unusual in people who’ve had treatment for cancer. They can also affect your sleep and make you feel very tired. Treating these symptoms may help to improve memory and concentration.

If you’re in pain| or have other symptoms, such as feeling sick, it can be difficult to focus on anything else. Having symptoms treated may help improve problems with concentration. If you think that the drugs you’re taking to control your symptoms are affecting your concentration, let your doctor know. 

Treatments for concentration and memory problems Back to top

A number of drugs have been tried to help people with cognitive impairment but, as yet, none have definitely proved successful. Research is ongoing to find an effective treatment.

A type of talking therapy called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which focuses on memory and attention, may be helpful. Your GP can tell you more about this and can refer you for help.

What you can do to help yourself Back to top

There are different things you can do to improve your symptoms and help you to cope:

• Use things to help your memory such as planners, calendars, post-it notes and to-do lists.
• Keep notes of anything important, such as conversations with your doctor or nurse.
• Try to do one thing at a time.
• Have a daily routine and try to stick with it. Whenever it’s possible, cut out things that distract you (such as background noise) when you’re trying to concentrate on a task.
• Keep things in the same place. You’ll know where they are even if you don’t remember putting them there.
• If you need to take something with you when you leave the house, put items near the front door beforehand.
• Use a pill box dispenser if you need to take medicines.
• Try brain exercises such as crosswords, word puzzles or sudoku to help improve your concentration.
• Try to do simple arithmetic in your head for things like calculating your change.
• Keep a diary or note of times when your concentration or memory problems are more noticeable or worse. You can then plan to do things that require more concentration when you’re most likely to be at your best. You’ll also be able to recognise if there are patterns or triggers that make things worse for you.
• Look after yourself. Get plenty of rest but try to balance this with regular exercise. Exercise can help with fatigue and sleep problems, so may in turn improve your concentration and memory.
• Tell your family and friends about the difficulties you’re having. They can support you and help you find ways to make life easier.
• Find some quiet activities that help you to wind down and feel less anxious. Some examples are yoga, exercise, meditation, reading and complementary therapies.