Chemo Brain in Breast Cancer
If you or a loved one has undergone chemotherapy treatment for a cancer diagnosis, you may have heard of the term “chemo brain”. The medical term for this is chemotherapy related cognitive impairment (CRCI) and refers to impaired memory, processing speed, concentration, and attention after or during chemotherapy. While most cases of chemo brain are transient and self-resolve within a few weeks, some experience this for years following their treatments. These symptoms can have major impacts on quality of life, leaving patients feeling like they never fully recovered from their cancer diagnosis.
Unfortunately, up to 75% of cancer patients experience chemo brain while on active treatment, while up to 35% experience this for months to years after treatment completion. Despite these prevalence rates, the topic of chemo brain remains largely under researched. In fact, the mechanism by which this side effect is caused remains unknown.
How Probiotics Might Help
Excitingly, a recent study published investigated the effects of probiotic supplementation in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The outcome of this study demonstrated that those supplementing with probiotics throughout chemotherapy had significantly lower incidence of chemo brain than those that did not.
Another interesting outcome of this study has helped shed some light on the mechanism of chemo brain. Historically it has been hypothesized that the inflammation caused by chemotherapy was the driving factor for neuropsychiatric changes. However, it was found that there was no change in inflammatory markers despite supplementing with probiotics. Saying this, there were significant changes in LDL-cholesterol and glucose levels in those taking probiotics. This newly uncovered information shifts the perspective that chemo brain may be a result of cardiometabolic changes rather than inflammatory ones. In light of this information, tailoring a healthy lifestyle and diet during chemotherapy conducive to lower glucose and cholesterol levels may also benefit those receiving chemotherapy.
How To Be Proactive
It has become “normal” for individuals to experience dramatic side effects when receiving chemotherapy. Luckily, nutritional modifications and certain nutraceuticals have been shown in research to help reduce chemotherapy related side effects. If you want to be proactive in reducing the severity of these side effects, you can read more about how we approach integrative cancer care here. You can also reach out to us for support!
Ready to make a change?
If you're searching for more guidance and understanding of how you can support a breast cancer diagnosis or survivorship with naturopathic medicine, you can book a complimentary consult with me here.
Yours in health,
Dr. Hayhlee Clarence, ND
References
Mounier, N. M., Abdel-Maged, A. E., Wahdan, S. A., Gad, A. M., & Azab, S. S. (2020). Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI): An overview of etiology and pathogenesis. Life sciences, 258, 118071. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118071
Janelsins, M. C., Kesler, S. R., Ahles, T. A., & Morrow, G. R. (2014). Prevalence, mechanisms, and management of cancer-related cognitive impairment. International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England), 26(1), 102–113. https://doi.org/10.3109/09540261.2013.864260
Juan, Z., Chen, J., Ding, B., Yongping, L., Liu, K., Wang, L., Le, Y., Liao, Q., Shi, J., Huang, J., Wu, Y., Ma, D., Ouyang, W., & Tong, J. (2022). Probiotic supplement attenuates chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment in patients with breast cancer: a randomised, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial. European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990), 161, 10–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2021.11.006