“These changes can be mistaken for depression by the patient and their loved ones, and ignored, but they should always be brought to a doctor’s attention,” says Ramy Sedhom, MD, an oncologist on the Medical Staff of Penn Medicine Princeton Health. “There are ways to help the person cope with the mental changes they are experiencing.”
Working through Penn Medicine Princeton Cancer Center, cognitive rehabilitation can help sharpen mental skills and develop lifestyle changes such as establishing set routines, keeping a journal, and taking notes as reminders. Meditation and aerobic exercise, if approved by a doctor, also can help.
“For many people the changes they experience will be a temporary result of treatment, while others may require a longer recovery time,” says Dr. Sedhom, who is board certified in oncology and hospice and palliative care. “Regardless of how long the symptoms may last, talking to your doctor about them is an important part of the healing process.”
For more information about Penn Medicine Princeton Cancer Center at Princeton Medical Center, or to find a physician affiliated with Penn Medicine Princeton Health, call 1.888.742.7496, or visit princetonhcs.org/directory.