This book is a unique resource on the influence cancer and cancer treatments have on cognition. The majority of cancer patients on active treatment experience cognitive impairments often referred to as 'chemobrain' or 'chemofog'. In addition, patients with primary or metastatic tumors of the brain often experience direct neurologic symptoms. This book helps health care professionals working with cancer patients who experience cognitive changes and provides practical information to help improve care by reviewing and describing brain-behavior relationships; research-based evidence on cognitive changes that occur with various cancers and cancer treatments; assessment techniques, including neurocognitive assessment and neuroimaging techniques; and intervention strategies for affected patients. In short, it will explain how to identify, assess and treat these conditions.
Most people afflicted by cancer will experience cognitive impairment, sometimes referred to as 'chemobrain' or 'chemofog', due to the various direct and indirect effects of their disease and its treatment. In addition, patients with primary or metastatic tumors of the brain experience direct neurologic symptoms due, for example, to the location of their disease, surgical intervention, and the late effects of treatment such as radiotherapy. The aim of this book is to serve as a resource for health care professionals working with cancer patients who experience cognitive changes as a result of their cancer and its treatment. It provides practical information to help improve care by reviewing and describing brain-behavior relationships; research-based evidence on cognitive changes that occur with various cancers and cancer treatments; assessment techniques, including neurocognitive assessment and neuroimaging techniques; and intervention strategies for affected patients. In short, it will explain how to identify, assess and treat these conditions.
Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully provides valuable insight into the experience of patients and families living with advanced cancer and describes a novel psychotherapeutic approach to help them live meaningfully, while also facing the threat of mortality. Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully, also known by the acronym CALM, is a brief supportive-expressive intervention that can be delivered by a wide range of trained healthcare providers as part of cancer care or early palliative care. The authors provide an overview of the clinical experience and research that led to the development of CALM, a clear description of the intervention, and a manualized guide to aid in its delivery. Situated in the context of early palliative care, this text is destined to be become essential reading for healthcare professionals engaged in providing psychological support to patients and their families who face the practical and profound problems of advanced disease.
"This book, in both its direct and indirect inferences, points to the need for disease-specific neurocognitive methods in broadly occurring CNS and non-CNS cancers... All in all, this is a beautifully conceptualized book that should be on the bookshelves of many specialists who work in the very challenging field of Oncology."--Carol L. Armstrong, PhD, Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania, Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology Interest in the neurocognitive and sensory impairments resulting from many cancers and their interventions has grown considerably over the past decades as an important aspect of quality of life issues for cancer patients and survivors. The Neuropsychology of Cancer and Oncology features current findings on the neuropsychological effects of these cancers and their treatments along with the most promising neuropsychological and behavioral health interventions available to mitigate these deficits. This edited volume, part of the Contemporary Neuropsychology series, bridges the gap between the knowledge of neuropsychologists, who are grounded in the biological and physiological bases of cognition and behavior but not in pathology, and that of oncologists, who often lack expertise in the neuropsychological aspects of cancer. This text first addresses the biological components and medical care of these cancers, and issues relating to bioimaging. It then discusses the neurological impact of these cancers as they affect different functions, such as memory, learning, and sensory-motor ability, as well as discusses the effects of childhood cancers on neurological development. State-of-the-art neuropsychological and behavioral health interventions are considered, including neuropsychological/cognitive rehabilitation and habituation, pharmacological interventions, and collaborative medical practices. This text is a unique and timely resource for clinical neuropsychologists, clinical psychologists, neurologists, oncologists, oncology nurses, and neurorehabilitation professionals. Key Features: Bridges the gap of knowledge between neuropsychologists and oncologists Explores the most current research on the neuropsychological effects of various cancers and their treatments Provides state-of-the-art information on promising neuropsychological and behavioralñhealth interventions for impairments created by cancers and their treatments Represents a collaboration between some of the foremost scholars and practitioners in neuropsychology and oncology
Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) may affect nearly half of all cancer survivors and can persist for years after completing cancer treatment. Memory and Attention Adaptation Training (MAAT) is a cognitive-behavioral therapy offering evidence-based, nonpharmacological treatment of this common survivorship condition. Organized into a session-by-session Clinician Manual and related Survivor Workbook, MAAT is conducted in eight treatment visits and has been demonstrated effective when delivered through telehealth technology, so survivors can readily fit MAAT into their busy lives. The MAAT Clinician Manual provides a clearly written summary of the scientific literature on CRCI and detailed guidance for each visit, including an agenda outline, in-depth discussion, and accompanying fidelity checklist in the appendix. Designed to be used in conjunction with the Survivor Workbook, the Clinician Manual also includes the full text of the workbook in a separate appendix, giving clinicians convenient one-volume access to the complete material.
Advances in cancer treatment have led to increasing numbers of survivors left to struggle with the long-term adverse effects of disease and treatment. Many possible effects have been described including anxiety, depression, as well as physical side effects and consequences of cancer treatment. One particular adverse effect that is frequently reported but often overlooked in clinical practice is disturbances of cognitive functioning. Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a growing area of research with important clinical implications for current patients and survivors. Despite a huge increase in this research endeavour in the last 20 years, many important questions remain unanswered due, in large part, to methodological limitations of many of the studies. The overall goal of this dissertation is to critically examine previous CRCI research from a methodological perspective. It will explore limitations and confounds in this research and provide suggestions for improving future work. This dissertation is comprised of three manuscripts, a critical literature review and two original papers, addressing specific research questions. The first original paper addresses the disparity between the results of objective (performance-based) and subjective (self-report) measures of cognition that is typically observed in samples of cancer patients, using multilevel modeling to explore the hypothesis that this is due to failure to address measures of change over time. Despite negative findings, the methodological approach taken to this research question provided greater evidence for this subjective-objective disparity as well as methodological suggestions for future studies. The second original paper explores the sensitivity and validity of a computerized cognitive test for measuring CRCI to determine if it might be an appropriate alternative to traditional, resource-intensive neuropsychological testing. This study found that, although the computerized measure of cognitive functioning was not sensitive enough to detect changes at the individual level or within specific domains, it was sensitive to changes in cognitive functioning at the group level suggesting its usefulness as a screening tool in research settings. By addressing methodological limitations of research to date and, specifically, the two issues identified above, this dissertation aims to a) make recommendations to help improve the quality of future research, b) validate the cognitive complaints of cancer patients, and c) improve access to cognitive assessments leading to increased detection and treatment of cognitive side effects and improvement in quality of life of cancer survivors.
Navigating Life with a Brain Tumor is a guide for anyone affected by brain tumors and their associated conditions-patients, family members, friends, and caregivers. Providing readily accessible information and real-world encouragement to people living with primary and metastatic brain tumors and their caregivers, this book discusses the basics of brain tumors, types of tumors, management of different tumors, related symptoms, treatments and side effects, the role of medical team members, and coping strategies from initial diagnosis throughout the course of the illness. At the same time, it also offers practical suggestions on symptom management and lifestyle modification, as well as real-life anecdotes and advice from both patients and family members and friends who are experiencing this diagnosis.
Adjuvant treatment is administered prior to or as follow up to surgical procedures for breast cancer. Proven success in using medical therapies allowing for breast conserving procedures or reducing risk of occurrence. Although there has been much progress towards a cure, including the introduction of new targeted therapies, metastasizing cancer remains highly incurable.
Neuro-oncology is a rapidly growing field concerned with scientific developments and clinical applications related to neuroscience, neuropsychology, cancer and oncology. Neuro-oncological disorders include cancers that directly affect the central nervous system (CNS), such as brain tumours and brain metastases, and non-CNS cancers with treatments that produce neurocognitive impairment. To date, the biological mechanisms and neuropsychological effects of brain tumour and cancer have been the dominant focus in neuro-oncology literature. In terms of psychosocial aspects of care, people’s understanding of their diagnosis and symptoms and how they cope with their illness has a major influence on their emotional well-being and quality of life.The development and evaluation of psychological and supportive care interventions for people with brain tumour is an area of emerging research and of high interest to health professionals working in the field. This Research Topic aims to enhance understanding of the psychological and social consequences of brain tumour and other cancers impacting neurocognitive function. It also aims to showcase new developments in assessment and psychosocial intervention approaches.
