Dear Annie: Practical tip for dealing with chemo-related memory loss

To Annie, please:

I’m writing about a heartbroken cancer survivor who feels she irritates her family by repeating talks and queries she can’t recall since she has short-term memory loss from chemotherapy. “I feel like I have no voice in my own home,” she remarked.

I used to work with people who had traumatic brain injuries as an occupational therapist. Short-term memory loss is another issue they address.

Instead of Heartbroken asking the same question over and over again, we encourage them to keep a notebook with them and write down questions and replies, dates, the day’s calendar, etc. This way, once she asks a question and receives an answer, she can write it down and refer to it later. This is also helpful for entering the day’s itinerary, meal, etc.

I’m hoping this may help Heartbroken with her predicament. — Wishing to Assist

To Hope:

I appreciate your letter. This is exactly what a number of other readers suggested in their correspondence. Numerous others praised speech-language pathologists in related fields and their potential to aid in healing.

How Can My Partner Who Cheated Be Forgiven? is currently available! Both print and e-book versions of Annie Lane’s second anthology, which includes her favorite pieces on marriage, adultery, communication, and reconciliation, are available. For additional information, go to http://www.creatorspublishing.com. For Annie Lane, send inquiries to [email protected].

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