Understanding and Improving Chemo Brain

Led by Professor Nazanin Derakhshan, learn how chemo brain affects memory and focus, and discover research-backed strategies.

92% of adults find life after cancer harder than treatment. If you’re finding this part tough, you’re not alone.

At Life after Cancer, we offer free support to help you navigate the challenges that often arise once treatment ends , including fear of recurrence, identity shifts, brain fog, relationship changes, and figuring out what matters now.

You can connect with others who’ve had cancer through expert-led sessions, peer support groups, coaching workshops, and our 6-week group programme – all delivered by trained coaches with personal cancer experience, or by leading experts in life after cancer such as doctors, psychologists, clinicians, and researchers.

98% of our community members say they feel less isolated and experience improved mental wellbeing after attending our services.

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Understanding and Improving Chemo Brain after Cancer Treatment

Have you ever entered a room for something and immediately forget what you are looking for, or why you are even there?

Do you get distracted and forget your words shortly after engaging in a conversation? Do you find it difficult to concentrate on one thing and feel that it’s taking quite a long time to learn something new?

Do you experience brain fog, and do you find yourself mentally (and physically) tired?

These are symptoms of chemobrain, which the research literature refers to as ‘cancer related cognitive impairment’. The thing is, you actually don’t need to have chemotherapy as part of your cancer treatment to have chemobrain.

An extensive amount of literature is now recognising and validating the concept of chemobrain (or brain fog) in those of us diagnosed with cancer. What’s more, research from neuroscience shows that chemobrain can persist up to 20 years after diagnosis and treatment for cancer.

The implications of living with chemobrain are not just personal but have social and affective consequences like impaired workability, poorer self-confidence and self-esteem, and these can increase our risk of anxiety and depression.

This workshop will focus on:

• Understanding chemobrain.
• Its nature and risk factors.
• How it can be managed and improved over time.

What you will take away:

Drawing from the latest research in cancer, you will hear and learn about the latest research developments on building emotional resilience, with helpful tips and recommendations.

About Nazanin Derakhshan

Nazanin Derakhshan is a Professor of Experimental Psychology who has pioneered and published substantive research into understanding the roots of vulnerability to anxiety and depression, as well as developing interventions to boost resilience. A key discovery of her work is the role of ‘cognitive efficiency’ in vulnerability and resilience to anxiety and depression. Following her own cancer diagnosis, Naz has raised awareness and conducted extensive research into chemobrain and its role in emotional vulnerability in women with a breast cancer diagnosis. Her research has established useful ways by which we can boost cognitive and emotional resilience, improve workability and reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Naz is the founder and director of the award winning Centre for Building Resilience in Breast Cancer (BRiC). This is a psychoeducational support network with over 2500 women diagnosed with breast cancer anywhere in the UK and at any stage of their journey. The aims of the centre are to empower women with continued support after diagnosis.

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Who is this for? Anyone who has finished cancer treatment, wants to support their mental wellbeing, and would like to connect with others who’ve had cancer.

The aim: To increase physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing, and reduce isolation. The support we offer reduces the risk of serious mental distress and helps build a positive, purposeful life after cancer.

Your facilitator: Our groups are led by trained coaches who have personal experience of cancer.

Booking your place: Spaces are limited. Please book your spot, and we’ll send you the Zoom link a few hours before the session starts.

Please arrive on time: To get the most out of this coaching workshop, we kindly ask that you arrive by 12.25pm. The session will begin promptly at 12.30pm, and we won’t be able to let anyone in after that time. Arriving late means missing key parts of the session, so please do your best to be on time so you can get the full value from the workshop.

Free places: If you’re unable to make a donation, please select a free space. If all free spaces are taken and you can’t afford a ticket but would still like to attend, email us at support@life-aftercancer.co.uk with your name and the event you’d like to join - we’re here to support you.

Donations: Your donation helps keep our services going. Free tickets are available thanks to The National Lottery Community Fund.