Feeling more forgetful these days...

[Redjenn]

I'm 31 with stage 3c diagnosis. I have been doing Yervoy treatments just over two years now. I feel like I have lost a lot of brain power since beginning treatments. I've become annoyingly forgetful and make a lot of stupid mistakes b/c of it. Sometimes it's kind of scary. I used to have a good memory. Has anyone else experienced this? Is it normal? Will my brain get back to normal after treatment ends?

[Robynfine]

I feel the same way. I don’t know if it’s stress, Yervoy, getting older, or what. But I don’t think you’re alone. I haven’t ever asked my oncologist about it. Have you? I’d be curious to what he or she says.

[Redjenn in reply to Robynfine]

She just said there is a thing called "chemo brain" and even though I'm not on chemo, I'm still having toxins dumped into my system, so it could be something similar to "chemo brain."

[kboudreau]

I was on this for about 7 months before the side effects got too bad... I had always associated the lack of memory with stress but yes it was certainly a thing!! My last treatment was in Aug 2017 and I do feel that my brain is feeling more and more "normal" as time goes by.

You must be closing in on completing treatments, keep it up!

[Redjenn in reply to kboudreau]

Yes, I have 3 more left! Good to hear it will return to more normal! What kind of side effects did you experience?

[kboudreau in reply to Redjenn]

Colitis (10+ times per daily/night and waking several times during the night), this is the one the took me out of treatment. I also experienced some nausea, headaches and small rashes. I was put on prednisone to help with colitis and ended up needing remicade infusion to finally make it go away. As I closed in on being done with prednisone I began to have joint problems. The joints are still an issue and almost 9 months later i am still on a low dose of prednisone to help. Still hoping my bowels will return to normal someday, but a small price to pay in the end!!