From diagnosis through the early part of chemotherapy, I was a ball of, My first cancer diagnosis came in June of 2007. What I know is that when I am so nervous before a test and trying hard not to cry, when I ask God to hold my hand, I stop being so afraid. It may be harder to identify than delirium, and it may not have one identifiable cause. I know it sounds sort of silly but I did clean closets in the house and tried to give away all my stuff. I read your profile. Some people notice very small changes, such as a bit more difficulty remembering things, whereas others have much greater memory or concentration problems. I am limited on some drugs that can help by my Meningioma brain tumor. My e-mail address is slickwilly007@msn.com if you would like to talk. It is important to identify your risk for infertility before treatment starts and take steps to preserve your read more, I became a cancer survivor in 1992. Can chemotherapy change a person's personality? This happens most often when the tumour is in the frontal lobe of their brain. I also saw a psychiatrist that really helped me out of my depression, helped me deal with the tumor coming back, the fears, etc. Talk and if he won't talk you might want to try a therapist. Thanks for the response. Some chemotherapy drugs can affect how well your kidneys work (kidney function). I have worked closely with two women starting after they had finished chemotherapy. personality change during chemo sparky333 over 10 years ago my husband is on his 2nd cycle of chemo and seems to have had a complete personality change . After reading your response and the reponse of others I feel like I was the one with cancer when my husband was the one going through treatment. Copyright 2000-2019 © Cancer Survivors Network. Discuss any signs or symptoms with your health care team. Many of us talk about the emotional toll cancer has taken on our relationships. You seem to have such clarity. dragonfly2. In addition, a survivor can experience other conditions that cause cognitive changes that may or may not be related to cancer or treatment. I have missed many Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners. I am on disability but have not given up on life. Having cancer once lets you know it can always come back. I will be praying for both of you too. dragonfly2. It affects our emotions too. Perhaps your husband doesn't want to take the antidepressants because of how they make him feel; maybe the dosage needs to be adjusted or he needs a different antidepressant. We get all sort of feelings, fear, anger, depression, etc., and many times we don't even notice until it's been going on for a while. I can't imagine 70 libs! BS and get out of my way. I will now pray for you Slick and Judyloo and your families. Fatigue or feeling physically exhausted is a very common aftereffect of cancer and treatment. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider. The first time was after his first round with cancer. After treatment, skin irritations begin to subside and changes to your skin will go away or begin less noticeable over time. Ok? I took anxiety drugs for 4 months until my brain started to get up to speed again. We loved to go camping. I used to be a very calm even keeled person and at times I now wonder who or what I am. read more, Livestrong offers the following suggestions, clinical tools and resources to help fertility centers provide cancer patients with information about preservation, family-building opt read more. Some changes after cancer are very minor and will go away. It can also occur 48 months or longer after completion of radiation therapy. Treatments administered when extremely ill. Work with your husband and be understanding as I am sure you are. Some cancers and treatments can result in cognitive changes that affect thinking, learning, processing or remembering information. Personality changes are also common when a pituitary tumour causes the pituitary gland to over- or under-produce hormones. I went to U of M at Ann Arbor and they diagnosed spinal stenosis, degeneration of the spine and compression of the vertebres on nerves. I sure did see a huge personality change in my husband - and my self included. I just want the understanding, support and friendship. It has been very helpful for me to Managing Cancer-related Side Effects Changes in Mood or Thinking People going through cancer treatment sometimes have cognitive changes such as trouble remembering, paying attention, or thinking clearly. Difficulty remembering things that occurred recently. Little things that go wrong would get me very irritated. This eMedTV article addresses this common question, with details on what to do if you notice a change in your personality (or that of a loved one) during treatment. Little things like someone at work remove a printer without informing me. It's important to understand why these changes happen and when to find help and support. Then my left arm quit working. What I have is so rare that the first time I was diagnosed, the doctors didn’t know how to treat it. I never expected my wife to change with me as I would not wish this on anyone. Disorientation or the person doesn’t know where s/he is. Even though I didn't think it made a difference my wife said it did. Tumor located in the central nervous system (CNS) which includes the brain and spinal cord. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. I also ask Him to hold my hand when I go for tests and I am very nervous. Cognitive changes are sometimes related to higher dose chemotherapy and the use of immunotherapy to boost the immune system. Two things that helped me were faith in God. But I do the best I can. Find out whether you have an increased risk of cognitive changes. I admire the "perseverance for life". It addresses topics such as: Cognitive changes can happen suddenly (acute onset) or slowly over time (gradual onset). read more, Not all cancer patients experience pain during treatment. I know that chemo patients get chemo brain. As it covered too large an area and Radiation makes bone brittle there was no way they would do any surgery. If I don't feel good I don't stop her from enjoying life. Some people who have brain tumours find they experience some personality changes. Talk with your health care team if you have questions related to children who experience cognitive changes. I will suggest that because after this weekend, I can see he really needs some help in that area. Well, anyway Judyloo... the antidepressants are just temporary for me and they are wonderful. My body chemistry is all messed up after having chemo. For some reason I didn't think of suggesting to my husband to try a different antidepressants or different doses. have I had chemo and experienced some of those personality changes, and coincidentally developed ms as a long-time after effect of the chemo. I take the smallest dose and that just works fine for me. She didn't give me any antidepressants at first. Slick, are you still going through treatment? women's rights), and I get every excited and loud in expressing my position. Short-term memory problems 10. He underwent aggressive chemotherapy and radiation for a year. Posts: 13 Joined: Sep 2008 Sep 06 ... radiation and chemo/ stage 4A. The Cancer Legal Resource Center (CLRC) provides free and confidential services and information about cancer-related legal issues to survivors, loved ones, friends, employers, health care, The Oncofertility Consortium is a group of researchers and medical professionals dedicated to exploring and expanding options for the reproductive future of cancer survivors. Taking longer than usual to complete routine tasks 11. There were times when I was in treatment and I was cranky and impatient with my family. Late effects may include: Memory loss; Problems doing math; Problems concentrating; Slow processing of information; Personality changes; Movement problems Radiation to the brain can cause radiation necrosis. Slickwilly. Your pain brings me pain. The feeling of “mental fog”, difficulty concentrating or remembering things, and other cognitive issues can really impact someone’s life, and are a common personality change after chemo. Why are you still having such pain? Creating a care plan If you’re ending prostate cancer treatments, you and your doctor should discuss a care plan. The … But you really can't hide from having cancer and all the mental problems that come with it. So cut the Chemotherapy given into the spinal fluid after radiation. It can also harm healthy cells that divide quickly, such as those that line your mouth and intestines or cause your hair to grow. If you go down the first list here to "long term effects of treatment" you will find a bunch of letters that relate to this subject. Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow and divide quickly. If you notice changes in your thinking, memory or behavior, keep a record of the problems that you experience. Judy, I have also seen the weight loss. This can happen during treatment with certain medications and chemotherapy agents, and may be reversible. He will not take the anti-anxiety med or the anti-depressant the dr. perscribed. Acute cognitive changes (delirium) that occur because of certain medicines often improve when you stop taking the medicine. Delirium usually happens after an identified cause, such as chemotherapy, and it is often reversible. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition. Thank you for sharing your insight, and thanks for your email address. Research has linked memory issues to certain chemotherapy drugs prescribed to treat many types of breast cancer. I also think if I could find a support group in my area, it would be beneficial. Ask your family or friends to also watch for changes. While cognitive changes associated with brain surgery often occur immediately, changes associated with radiation and chemotherapy can develop more gradually over time. The causes of fatigue can include physical problems such as pain, stress, anemia or the side effects of treatment. Cancer can affect all areas of your life – including your personality. Symptoms include: Dementia is a term used in this document to describe cognitive changes due to medical conditions other than Alzheimer's disease. Personality changes and brain tumours to redress this balance, if appropriate. Use a health journal to communicate symptoms and side effects of medicine with your health care team. My normal night at work started with Oxycondone, Motrin 800 and flexeril. Symptoms include: A tumor or cancer cells in the brain can injure healthy cells and can cause cognitive changes. And I hate drugs just like your husband. Take prescribed medication as prescribed by writing down the time and date when you take the medication, taking the medication at the same time every day, using a medication reminder or pill dispenser or asking someone to help you keep track, if necessary. A neuropsychologist may suggest interventions to improve your functioning. We are coping with this new person. Unusual sleep patterns, such as awake at night and asleep during the day. Not by choice as I fought hard to keep working and support my family. It seems such a logical thing to do, but my normally logical brain did not go there. He is currently in the end stages of dying. But I go anyway and if things get too bad she stays and I go home until the pain lets up. You've asked if this will resolve with time. Or they don't want to hear the bad parts of a conversation. I don't know how I stayed awake or did my job. A change in weather or any movement of my head can cause pain for up to 8 days. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep (10)3; 232-239. I may be contacting you. Changes in how your kidneys work. I want to slow down and enjoy the simpler things. just wondering if anyone else has similar stories as im finding stuff hard at mo and could do with a friendly ear or two x I understand the "get out of my way" feeling. Cognitive and emotional changes reported during and after chemotherapy include memory loss, slowed thinking, reduced attention, anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Maybe he will benefit more from therapy. Personality changes after treatment. Hallucinations or seeing things that are not really there. Avoid dangerous activities if you are alone, such as cooking, using tools that could cause injury, driving and traveling to unfamiliar places. My husband also vents loudly, and it is impossible to stop him. I'm new to this so... as the wife of a two time cancer survivor, I have noticed great personality changes in my husband after 6 months of intense treatment; radiation and chemo/ stage 4A. Hmmm. The first time I was on them for 1 year (after he finished treatment). Maybe I should start one. i think I was/am just mostly angry at the MD who failed to diagnose him as quickly as she should have - in fact I was angry at ever Doc who came to us with bad news. I am not exactly expecting a miracle or anything like that. Gradual onset cognitive changes come about slowly over time and may be long lasting. You asked about my pain problem, and my life is an open book to anyone that asks or I would not be on here talking to anyone. Our personal approach to research allows us to develop programs that can best serve the physical, emotional and financial needs of patients and their loved ones. Sometimes they are the first sign of a brain tumor. Every experience is different. And years after cancer we fight depression and frustration. Being unusually disorganized 2. Some cancer survivors may experience lymphedema as a side effect of surgical or radiation cancer treatment. If you have pain, talk to your health care read more, I’ve been putting off writing about cancer because I didn’t want to be reminded of what a difficult period of my life it was. Treating the underlying condition often lessens or eliminates the cognitive problems. Here’s a guide for carers whose partners experience difficult mental as well as physical changes after a cancer diagnosis… by Hilly … However, some need to have pain managed by their health care team. A large part of my life had changed and I didn't know what to do with myself. Cancer is more than the tumor, surgery and treatment. I got on the phone to family and friends and told them he needed their support any way they could give it - in person or by phone calls/cards. Here’s what you need to know about life after you’ve completed your treatment. My brain says I am 20 and my body says I am 80. One good thing did come out of all this we both now believe in the power of prayer - so one is being said now for the two of you. Your doctor will assess your symptoms and advise you about ways to manage or treat these problems. Very calm even keeled person and at times and then is sorry for it later who lost husband... 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