Resolving Cancer Related Cognitive Impairment and Cancer Related Fatigue: The 2 Most Common and Persistent Complaints of Long Term Cancer Survivors

With continued improvements in disease-free survival after cancer treatment, there are increasing numbers of cancer survivors, currently over 15 million in the US alone with projections for 19 million by 2024 and 26 million by 2040. During the treatment phase, over 75% of all adult patients complain of fatigue and cognitive impairment. Even 20 years after treatment, many adult cancer survivors still suffer from persistent fatigue, depressive symptoms, poor memory, poor attention, difficulty with multitasking, and a decrease in executive functions.

Cancer related cognitive impairment may be severe, persistent, and more disruptive than pain and may not resolve with tumor control or treatment cessation. A highly individualized health-focused integrative approach is required to identify functional factors and select appropriate interventions for resolution.

Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal, and biotherapies, in addition to cancer biology itself are associated with increases in inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species in the brain.  Immune cells respond to inflammation traverse the blood-brain barrier and increase local inflammation in the brain, affecting emotional and cognitive function. These patients often show loss of grey and white matter and functional and structural changes that resemble accelerated brain aging. In addition to neuro-inflammation and neurotoxicity, cancer survivors can also experience myelosuppression, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, chronic pain, microbiome , endocrine, and sleep disruption.

Interventions including natural compounds, acupuncture, functional foods, diet and lifestyle modifications, and brain rehabilitation therapies can be used to prevent damage and restore function and quality of life to these patients allowing them to return to full and productive lives after treatment.

Attend this presentation to confidently:

1. Understand & Identify the long-term sequela of cancer and cancer treatment related cognitive impairment and accelerated brain aging in cancer patients and survivors.

2. Understand & Identify potential pathophysiologic mechanisms of cancer and cancer treatment related cognitive impairment and accelerated brain aging in cancer patients and survivors.

3. Be able to identify and use nutriceuticals, phytochemicals, functional foods, lifestyle interventions and integrative therapies to prevent damage and restore normal function to cancer patients and survivors suffering from long term cognitive impairment and accelerated brain aging effects of cancer and cancer treatments.