Cognitive Dysfunction
Activity, Support Groups, & Behavioral Approaches

Daily mental and physical activity can help preserve memory and other mental functions. Mental activity increases the connections between brain cells and keeps the connections active. If brain cells aren't used regularly their connections will weaken. Brain-strengthening mental activities include reading, doing puzzles, playing a musical instrument, painting, cooking, redecorating, woodwork, knitting or crocheting, needlework, writing journals or articles, and some computer games to name a few. Taking up a new hobby is one way to stimulate your brain through learning. Regular physical activity can also protect the brain. Brain-protecting physical activities include walking, going up and down stairs, hiking, cycling, driving, and gardening.

Healthcare providers may not discuss potential neurobehavioral symptoms with people living with cancer, in part, because these clinicians are not aware of the impact that even subtle symptoms can have on functioning. People who experience neurobehavioral symptoms and their families may feel isolated and alone.

This is why education is extremely important. The more knowledge you and your family members have about the disease, treatment, and expected problems, the more effectively you can cope. Even simple strategies, such as taking intermittent naps, writing notes, and taking special care to plan and organize activities, may be sufficient to effectively cope with symptoms.

Support groups and counseling can also reassure you and you family that your experiences are not unusual, and can help you deal with the grief, anger, frustration, and other problems that frequently arise over the course of the disease.

Recognizing the challenges of cognitive impairment and putting in place compensatory strategies, or methods to compensate for it, demonstrates a very high level of coping. These strategies include list making, developing a system of reminders, keeping a calendar, journaling, and many more activities that keep track of time and events that are apt to be forgotten.

Stress has long been associated with difficulties in cognitive performance. Creating methods of stress management and incorporating them into your daily routine is essential, particularly for those living with cancer. Methods of reducing stress are self-defined, that is, what works for one person may not work for another. Take time to investigate what calms and soothes you, and try to incorporate these activities into your daily life.

Cognitive behavior therapy addresses the role of unresolved stressors or issues in your life. During cognitive-behavioral therapy, your therapist takes an active role in modeling and mentoring the reshaping of new perceptions and empowers new behaviors for you to practice and make part of your life.