What causes chemo brain?

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What causes chemo brain?

Doctors do not always know what causes chemo brain. It can be a side effect of chemotherapy, as some chemotherapy drugs are able to get through the blood-brain barrier. But different issues related to cancer and its treatment may also lead to this symptom.

People may develop chemo brain because of:

  • Cancer treatments other than chemotherapy, such as hormone therapy, and surgery
  • Problems with sleep and nutrition due to cancer treatment, leading to conditions such as anemia and/or sleep apnea
  • Fatigue (extreme tiredness)
  • Stress, depression and anxiety related to a cancer diagnosis
  • The loss of protection provided by the hormones estrogen, progesterone or testosterone when people with breast cancer and prostate cancer are treated with certain hormonal treatments
  • Oxidative stress caused by higher levels of free radicals and damage to DNA
  • Changes to the immune system

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