Cognitive Changes: Suggestions
Use the Cancer Survivor’s Health Journal to communicate symptoms and side effects of medicine with your health care team:
- The Cancer Survivor’s Health Journal can be found in the Survivorship Tools area.
- Use the Health Diary to record any cognitive changes that you notice. Keeping a Health Diary will help you to remember examples when you had difficulty concentrating or remembering simple things. These examples can be valuable for communicating with your health care team.
- Use the Health Care Team Appointment document to write down everything you want to ask your health care team. You can write notes and questions on the sheet between appointments.
- Use the List of Medications to keep track of your medications. Bring this document to the appointment along with all of your medication bottles. This lets the team know all the medications you are taking, including vitamins and over-the-counter medications.
- Use the Health Care Team Appointment document to take notes during the appointment and to write down your next appointment date.
- Keep all of these documents together in a binder and bring it with you to your appointments.
- Bring extra copies of all of these documents with you to give to the health care team. You can also fax or mail these documents in before the appointment. Having the health care team read your documents may be an easier way for you to communicate.
- You can store pamphlets, medication side effect inserts and important phone numbers in your binder so that everything is in one place.
- You can also contact your health care team by phone to let them know of your concerns. This will alert your team about the changes you are experiencing and help make sure that you talk about them at your next appointment.
Take the medication your health care team prescribes to help cognitive changes as directed:
The very nature of cognitive changes and memory challenges may make it difficult to remember to take prescribed medication. There are strategies that can help you to remember.
Some strategies for taking medication appropriately:
- Take the medication at the same time every day
- Use a medication reminder or pill dispenser
- Talk to your health care team before you stop taking any medication
- Keep a journal of medications you are taking noting any side effects of the medications
Check with your health care team before using any over the counter or prescription medications, or natural products to treat your symptoms.
Avoid dangerous activities if you are alone:
If you are having severe problems with concentration and memory, you may find yourself distracted and potentially placing yourself in harm’s way during certain activities.
Examples of activities you may want to avoid when alone:
- Cooking
- Using tools with which you can injure yourself
- Traveling to unfamiliar places
Ask your family to watch for safety issues:
If you have trouble with memory or concentration, you may want to sit down with your family and share your concerns. Discussing ways they can assist you in going about your daily activities may put your mind at ease in your daily activities.
Examples of ways your family can help:
- Create a checklist to keep by the door to review if you have turned off kitchen appliances
- Have someone drive you to appointments if traffic is too distracting
Talk to your family and an attorney about legal documents you may need:
- When you are experiencing cognitive problems, it is important to make sure your medical and financial wishes are respected. Talk to your family about your wishes and talk to an attorney about the legal documents that you will need.
- You can use the Practical Information Summary to organize information on your family, medical wishes, finances and estate planning. The Practical Information Summary can be found in the Survivorship Tools area.
Get plenty of sleep:
Rest may not get rid of the problem but may help make it better.
- Limit napping during the day
- Develop an exercise plan with your health care team
- Have a bedtime ritual, such as meditating
- Use aromatherapy, reading or other relaxing activities to prepare for sleep
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