Marilyn Abrahamson's Blog

How Brain Health and Training Can Help with Chemo Brain By Marilyn Abrahamson, MA,CCC-SLP Cancer treatments like chemotherapy can be tough on the body and the mind.  One common challenge that some people face during and after chemotherapy is  chemo brain . This condition can make it harder to remember things, stay focused, and think clearly. More specifically, it's described as feeling like a  mental fog, clouding thoughts, memories, and clarity, leaving behind mental fatigue . To tackle this issue, it's important to understand the value of brain health and training. This type of education teaches people how to take care of their brains, so they can harness *neuroplasticity, offering renewed hope and recovery for those experiencing the symptoms of  chemo brain .   What is Chemo Brain? Chemo brain, or  cancer-related cognitive impairment , is when cancer treatment affects your thinking and memory. It can make you forget things, find it tough to concentrate, ...

  Cognitive Impairment Associated with Cancer Treatment   (More Commonly Known as Chemo Brain)  By Marilyn Abrahamson, MA,CCC-SLP Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment often grapple with a type of brain fog that manifests as a change in memory and thinking that can occur before, during, and after their cancer treatment . This disruption in cognition is widely referred to as chemo brain.  Members of the healthcare community may use various terms to characterize this condition, such as cancer treatment-related cognitive impairment, cancer-related cognitive changes, or post-chemotherapy cognitive impairment. Although the exact cause of chemobrain remains elusive, it can occur at any stage of cancer treatment. These alterations in memory and thinking skills can make it more difficult to perform everyday activities for work, school, or social engagements. Unfortunately, many people do not report it to their doctors until the symptoms significantly impa...

Believe in Your Brain: How Confidence Boosts Memory and Thinking Skills By Marilyn Abrahamson, MA, CCC-SLP Have you ever walked into a room and forgotten why you were there—and then blamed it on having a “bad memory”?  If so, you’re not alone. But what if simply believing that your memory is failing could actually make it worse? Surprisingly, research shows that your beliefs about your brain may have a big impact on how well it works. In this post, we’ll look at how self-confidence, or self-efficacy , plays a powerful role in how we remember, think, and process information—and how the Long Live Your Brain program is helping people tap into that power. How Believing in Your Brain Makes a Difference Self-efficacy is a fancy term for believing in your own ability to succeed at something. When it comes to memory and thinking skills, that belief can be a game-changer. Studies have shown that people who think their memory isn’t good tend to perform worse on memory task...

Helping Women Feel Heard:  Addressing Chemotherapy-Induced Brain Fog in Women through Brain Training By Marilyn Abrahamson, MA,CCC-SLP Chemotherapy is a cornerstone of cancer treatment, offering hope and often life-saving benefits to millions of patients worldwide. However, while its efficacy in combating cancer is well-documented, the toll it takes on patients' cognitive function is an often overlooked aspect of the treatment journey.  Among the many side effects experienced by chemotherapy recipients, “chemo-fog,” "chemo brain," or chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI) is a prevalent and distressing issue, particularly for women. This phenomenon encompasses a range of cognitive impairments, including changes in memory, difficulty with focus, and slower processing speed. These symptoms can impact daily functioning, productivity, and quality of life overall.  Despite its prevalence and impact, the experience of chemotherapy-induced brain fog in women is often d...