What Is the Cognitive Profile of Individuals with Breast Cancer?
Keywords:
Cognitive impairments, Brain fog, Breast cancerAbstract
Cancer survivors experience cognitive difficulties such as brain fog, memory impairment, and executive functioning deficits. These problems often emerge as consequences of pharmacological treatments and chemotherapy, reducing individuals’ capacity to cope effectively with daily challenges. Despite their clinical importance, these cognitive problems have not been adequately examined with consideration of Iranian cultural context and demographic characteristics. Therefore, the present study investigated the cognitive profile of individuals with breast cancer in relation to demographic variables. The research design was causal–comparative and descriptive. Participants were assessed using a demographic information questionnaire. The statistical population consisted of all women diagnosed with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy, as well as non-cancer individuals, in Rafsanjan County in 2022. The study sample included 38 individuals with breast cancer and 38 healthy individuals, selected through convenience sampling. Participants were evaluated using the Neurocognitive Assessment (NeuroCog), the Brain Fog Scale, and the Multidimensional Fatigue Scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26. The findings indicated that individuals with breast cancer exhibited symptoms of brain fog and cognitive impairment, particularly in attention and memory domains. A statistically significant difference was observed between patients and healthy individuals across cognitive scores. Detailed analyses demonstrated that patients who had undergone chemotherapy showed substantial impairments in attention, memory, and executive functioning compared with the healthy control group, which was closely associated with the presence of brain fog symptoms. Furthermore, individuals with breast cancer reported considerable experiences of brain fog, distractibility, and forgetfulness.
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Copyright (c) 2023 Anis Mirzaei (Author); Mahgol Tavakoli
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