Cognitive function in breast cancer patients on chemotherapy: a longitudinal study

Objective: To explore whether cognitive impairment in breast cancer patients after the completion of chemotherapy treatment in comparisons with breast cancer patients without chemotherapy treatment and matched healthy controls.

Methods: A neuropsychology battery was applied in all breast cancer patients at our hospital from January 2012 to February 2013. Forty-two breast cancer patients with chemotherapy treatment (CT) underwent neuropsychologic testing before the start of chemotherapy (T1) and after treatment (T2). And 37 patients without chemotherapy treatment (non-CT) and matched healthy controls (HC) underwent the same assessment at matched intervals.

Results: The CT group performed significantly worse on attention, memory and executive function tests at T2 versus T1 (P < 0.05). As compared with HC and non-CT groups, the correct numbers of backward, digit symbol, delayed recall and recognition were lower in the CT group (P < 0.05). The reacting time of TMT test B, Stroop test B and Stroop test C were longer in the CT group (P < 0.05). There was significant time interaction in three groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: There are longitudinal changes in cognitive functioning of memory, attention and executive functions in breast cancer patients on Chemotherapy.