Invisible and often overlooked effects of cancer treatments can significantly impact patients' cognitive functions. To address this issue, a new online exercise program is now accessible throughout France, aimed at helping cancer patients cope with cognitive difficulties.
On October 10, Véronique Gérat-Muller, a psychologist specializing in supportive care in oncology, will give a talk at the Alliage in Olivet (Loiret) about understanding the invisible effects of cancer treatments. Based in Bordeaux, she is also the director of research and development at OnCOGITE, an association dedicated to cognitive remediation for cancer patients.
Founded in 2019, OnCOGITE focuses on managing cognitive disorders related to oncological treatments, regardless of the type of cancer. Gérat-Muller explains, “I created this method because patients were not receiving help for these cognitive issues. Research is ongoing to support this method with evidence.”
These cognitive disorders can include attention, language, memory, concentration, organization, and planning difficulties. They can manifest at the time of cancer diagnosis, during intensive treatments, or even afterward due to significant side effects from chemotherapy.
Historically, these cognitive effects have been underestimated. Medical professionals often prioritize treatment efficacy, focusing on saving lives, but as medical advancements have allowed patients to return to work, many report feeling fatigued and depressed. It was not until the 1990s that the connection between treatments and cognitive fog began to be explored.
Various treatments, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy, particularly to the brain, can contribute to this cognitive fog, which affects about one in two patients. It is often misidentified as other conditions.
Gérat-Muller’s program consists of online exercises led by a neuropsychologist, available to anyone without prerequisites. The goal is to help damaged neurons reconnect and restore self-confidence through brain plasticity. Participants are encouraged to attend 22 sessions, with many experiencing significant recovery after just 15 sessions. While the sessions are not covered by social security, a membership fee of 20 euros allows access, and the Ligue contre le cancer has partnered to help fund these programs.