“Chemo brain,” also called cancer-related cognitive impairment, refers to a set of thinking and memory problems that can occur during or after cancer treatment—most commonly chemotherapy. It is often described as a mental “fog,” and may include difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, slower processing speed, and trouble multitasking, all of which can impact daily functioning and quality of life.
For many individuals, symptoms improve after treatment ends, but they can persist. Roughly 35% of patients continue to report cognitive issues months after chemotherapy, and a smaller subset (about 17–30%) may experience longer-term effects. Overall, chemo brain is now recognized as a real and measurable side effect of cancer treatment, though its severity and duration vary significantly from person to person.
If you are struggling with Chemo Brain, please sign up for our Memory & Attention Adaptation Training Class.
