Cognitive Impairment in Adults with Non−Central Nervous System Cancers (PDQ®)–Patient Version

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General Information About Cognitive Problems in Cancer Survivors

KEY POINTS

Cognition is the mental process of learning and understanding.
Memory and thinking problems may occur in cancer patients and cancer survivors.

Cognition is the mental process of learning and understanding.

Cognition is the process of gaining knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.

The thinking process includes being able to do the following:

Focus on the important information, thoughts, and actions.
Pay attention to a task or activity for a long period of time.
Predict what may happen, plan, and solve problems.
Take in new information quickly.
Have a sense of where objects are around you.
Understand and communicate by speaking or writing.
Learn and remember new information.

This summary is about cognitive changes that occur in cancer patients and cancer survivors who do not or did not have cancer in the central nervous system (brain or spinal cord).

Memory and thinking problems may occur in cancer patients and cancer survivors.

Changes in memory and thinking are common in cancer patients and cancer survivors and are to be expected. Your thinking process may change, making it harder for you to pay attention and remember information the same way as you did before your cancer treatment.

Talk to your doctor about memory and thinking problems that may happen with your type of cancer or after treatment.

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Diagnosis of Cognitive Problems