Maximum Capacity: Strategies for Cognitive Enhancement



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Cancer Corner

Suffering from cancer related brain fog?
If you are experiencing or have experienced cancer related brain fog, or are caring for someone with cancer related brain fog, this space is for you.

We will be adding to it periodically with new updates and articles, so be sure to bookmark this page and check back often. You can also sign up to receive regular updates here.

Updates

Program Development: An Ongoing Endeavour Back to Top of Page 
Maximum Capacity continues to expand in order to meet ongoing demands for brain fog programming...
Posted by Heather Palmer, June 26, 2012
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Speaking in Vancouver at the CAPO Conference Back to Top of Page 
As long as I can remember, April has been recognized nationally as Daffodil month. Pins and flowers are sold across Canada to raise funds and awareness for cancer...
Posted by Heather Palmer, May 4, 2012
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Brain Fog Baldies Back to Top of Page 
On Friday, March 30th 2012, Heather and I did something that we never thought we would do: we shaved our heads!...
Posted by Jennifer Chown, May 4, 2012
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Program Expansion to Ottawa Back to Top of Page 
In December 2011, I visited Ottawa for the purpose of training two remarkable cancer coaches to run our Brain Fog program at the newly opened Maplesoft Centre for Cancer Survivorship Care...
Posted by Heather, February 16, 2012
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Story Telling for Cancer Survivors Back to Top of Page 
Mike and Bonnie Lang are two remarkable people whom Heather and I met recently at the Young Adults Cancer Canada Survivor Conference. As a cancer survivor and supporter...
Posted by Jen, December 9, 2011
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"Brain Fog: Ongoing Practice" seminar at Wellspring Back to Top of Page 
On November 22, 2011, I conducted a "Brain Fog: Ongoing Practice" seminar at Wellspring Westerkirk House (formerly Wellspring Sunnybrook). The ongoing practice seminar is a single, 2.5 hour session...
Posted by Heather, December 5, 2011
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Young Adults Get Brain Fog Too Back to Top of Page 
Heather and I recently had the honour of participating in the Young Adults Cancer Canada (YACC) Survivor Conference held in Ottawa on November 3-7, 2011. Heather delivered a keynote address...
Posted by Jen, Programs Manager and Brain Fog Facilitator, Nov.17, 2011
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Cancer Answers Nova Scotia Back to Top of Page 
Heather Palmer and Maximum Capacity are featured in an article in the November issue of the Cancer Care Nova Scotia Newsletter. You can read the full article...
Posted by Jen, Programs Manager and Brain Fog Facilitator, Nov. 14, 2011
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ReThink Breast Cancer at lululemonathletica Back to Top of Page 
Last night I was invited to speak to an intimate group of young women with breast cancer as part of the Live, Laugh, Learn series in Toronto by ReThink Breast Cancer...
Posted by Heather, Oct. 24 2011
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A message from Heather Palmer, PhD: Welcome to Maximum Capacity Back to Top of Page 
Everyone could use a mental boost from time to time! Who hasn’t experienced the frustration of misplacing keys, forgetting names one should remember, having trouble doing more than one thing at a time...
Posted by Heather, 2010
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Featured Article Back to Top of Page 

Featured Article:
 
  • Brain Fog and Cancer: How you can fight back

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    Brain Fog and Cancer: How you can fight back

    Cancer is mean, just plain mean. Just like a bully, really! It sneaks up on you when you least expect it, it intimidates you, makes you feel afraid, uncomfortable, hurt, and, strips you of your confidence.

    Once affected by cancer, no matter how successful the treatment, some still struggle with changes in themselves that neither medications nor therapy seem to overcome. The changes I am talking about are the cognitive ones, including thought processes and intellectual functions such as memory, problem solving, organization, planning, and goal setting.

    Cognitive disruption following cancer diagnosis and/or treatment can occur in as many as 75% of patients. Those affected describe a loss in sharpness that is both frustrating and life altering. Health care professionals and scientists are just beginning to try to unravel why this happens, even though cancer patients themselves have been talking about it for years. The symptoms of “brain fog”, “chemo fog” or “chemo brain” include difficulties with memory, organization, multi- tasking and language. These kinds of changes can have an enormous impact on a person's ability to successfully function from day-to-day, and often continue long after the cancer has been treated.

    Although we may not know the exact cause or combination of causes which lead to “brain fog”, we can certainly focus on how to remedy the situation. Cognitive enhancement programs teach people (either one-on-one or in small groups), through education and self-awareness, and trial-and-error, how to use new techniques and practice old techniques in order to enhance current cognitive status. Under the leadership of someone trained in brain-behaviour relationships, participants are taught to identify specific changes in cognition resulting from the cancer or cancer treatment and then learn methods, strategies and mechanisms to compensate. Successful cognitive enhancement has resulted in even minor treatment effects having an enormous positive impact on the lives of individuals affected.

    Just as the physical symptoms and changes caused by cancer and cancer treatment vary from person to person, so do the cognitive changes. While one person may think a little slower, another may remember a little less, and others might get a little muddled when they do more than one thing at a time. So how does one know if their cognitive changes are normal or not? Start logging the incidents. When you review your ‘incident list’ ask yourself, is this normal or to be expected given the diagnosis and treatment? How does this differ to my previous levels of functioning? Make a conscious effort to reduce your blunders and monitor changes over time. Ask yourself if your mistakes are increasing in frequency and severity. Compare notes with others and openly communicate your changes and concerns with peers, family members and your health professional. There are many different causes for cognitive change!

    Don’t let cancer, get the best of you. Fight the bully - play a proactive role in your cognition. Stay mentally and physically active. Learn and practice strategies and techniques for cognitive enhancement. Talk about the changes, don’t hide them. Take the “fog” out of the cancer experience and help yourself think more clearly!

    By Heather Palmer PhD.

     





     
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