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Screening for Cognitive Impairment Associated with Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

  • Clinical Trials (S Hurvitz, Section Editor)
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Abstract

At least 20 % of women treated with chemotherapy for breast cancer experience some form of cognitive decline. Recent recommendations call for clinicians to screen cognitive abilities. Screening of factors that can contribute to cognitive impairment is also currently recommended. We describe a battery of free, online, self-report surveys that would take approximately 30 min to complete in the context of an overall functional assessment of wellness. Key physical characteristics to be screened include fatigue and insomnia. Significant psychological characteristics include distress, depression, and anxiety. Fundamental social characteristics include basic needs, workplace issues, and interpersonal well-being. Systematic screening that could be completed in the clinic waiting room or during chemotherapy infusion is an important first step towards more holistic patient care that addresses cognitive side effects, just as physical side effects of treatment are routinely addressed.

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by an Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Award: Interventions for Neurologic Communication Disorders (award no. 90AR5015-01-00) from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) and the Evergreen Invitational Women’s Health Grants Initiative. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, 345 East Superior Street, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Diane F. Morean & Leora R. Cherney

  2. Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 710 North Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Diane F. Morean & Leora R. Cherney

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  1. Diane F. Morean
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Correspondence to Diane F. Morean.

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Morean, D.F., Cherney, L.R. Screening for Cognitive Impairment Associated with Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer. Curr Breast Cancer Rep 8, 151–157 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12609-016-0219-2

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