Source: Neuron  |  Posted 10 years ago

Systemic chemotherapy can negatively impact on cognitive function according to the results of specific tests, say American researchers. These include measurements of standardized neuropsychologic tests and self reported memory changes.

There are suggestions, however, that these cognitive deficits may only be experience by a subgroup of survivors.

A research team at New Hampshire Hospital in Concord, New Hampshire compared the neuropsychological functioning of long term survivors of breast cancer and lymphoma who had received either standard- dose systemic chemotherapy or local therapy only.

Participants included long-term survivors from breast cancer or lymphoma, diagnosed five years previously, who were not now receiving cancer therapy and were disease free since completion of systemic chemotherapy. Thirty-five patients (aged 59.1