Neurocognitive dysfunction in cancer patients

Many cancer patients experience impairments of neurocognitive function, inc luding memory loss, distractibility, difficulty in performing multiple task s (multitasking), and a myriad of other symptoms. Patients may also concurr ently suffer from mood disturbance and symptoms that compromise their abili ty to function adequately, including fatigue and pain. The etiologies of th ese problems are diverse and include the direct effects of cancer within th e central nervous system (CNS) indirect effects of certain cancers (eg, par aneoplastic brain disorders), and both diffuse and highly specific effects of cancer treatments on the brain, In addition to these cancer-related caus es, patients may have coexisting neurologic or psychiatric disorders that a ffect their cognition and mood. Careful assessment of patients complaining of neurocognitive or behavioral problems is essential to providing appropri ate interventions and maximizing their ability to carry out usual activitie s.