Rivkin Center (Seattle) awards grant for cognitive study (ovarian cancer/chemobrain)

 Blogger's Note: many ovarian cancer survivors who have gone before us would be happy with this news (Shirley Inveen, Sheryl Eisenbarth.....)

Rivkin Center awards grant for cognitive study:

CONGRATULATIONS DR. GRAY!

Heidi Gray, MD

University of Washington

Behavioral and neural indices of cognitive rehabilitation in ovarian cancer

Millions of ovarian cancer survivors live with residual symptoms of impaired thinking and impaired memory severe enough to interfere with basic activities of daily living and work. However, very little is known about how to treat problems in cognition. Pharmacologic interventions have only been modestly helpful, if at all, and not all patients desire or are able to take medications. Dr. Gray will examine the ability of a 7-week cognitive rehabilitation intervention to improve memory and thinking abilities in ovarian cancer survivors. In addition, the project will measure changes in brain activity patterns from the treatment using neuroimaging.

The Rivkin Center is delighted to announce the recipients of its 2012 Scientific Grants.

summary: International Cognition and Cancer Task Force recommendations to harmonise studies of cognitive function in patients with cancer : The Lancet Oncology

Memory Impairment Common in People with a History of Cancer « AACR News

"He calls the condition “cancer related cognitive dysfunction,” suggesting that it goes beyond the “chemobrain” label that has been attached primarily to women treated with chemotherapy for their breast cancer who reported problems in cognitive function (e.g., attention and memory). “These memory issues can be related to treatment, such as chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapies, or to the tumor biology itself, which could change brain chemistry and neurobehavioral function,” said Jean-Pierre."

Gray matter reduction associated with systemic chemotherapy for breast cancer: a prospective MRI study - abstract

"...Findings were not attributable to recency of cancer surgery, disease stage, psychiatric symptoms, psychotropic medication use, or hormonal treatment status. This study is the first to use a prospective, longitudinal approach to document decreased brain gray matter density shortly after breast cancer chemotherapy and its course of recovery over time. These gray matter alterations appear primarily related to the effects of chemotherapy, rather than solely reflecting host factors, the cancer disease process, or effects of other cancer treatments."