Picture: Dr Nicholas Keetile, who is an Oncology Pharmacist at Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital in Vryburg/Supplied
By OBAKENG MAJE
12 September 2024- According to Mayo Clinic, which is a private American Academic Medical Centre in Rochester, Minnesota, U.S. said, chemo brain is a common term used by cancer survivors to describe thinking and memory problems that can occur during and after cancer treatment. The clinic said chemo brain can also be called chemo fog, cancer-related cognitive impairment or cognitive dysfunction.
“Though chemo brain is a widely used term, the causes of concentration and memory problems aren’t well-understood. It’s likely that there are multiple causes. No matter the cause, chemo brain can be a frustrating and debilitating side effect of cancer and its treatment.” the website said.
It said researchers are working to understand the memory changes that people with cancer experience. However, chemo brain remains a relatively understudied area in oncology and as such, Dr Nicholas Keetile, who is an Oncology Pharmacist at Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital in Vryburg, has a distinguished career dedicated to advancing our understanding of this complex issue.
Keetile said he is dedicated to advancing the understanding of chemo brain.
“Chemo brain is a term used to describe cognitive impairment caused by chemotherapy, a phenomenon that affects many cancer patients. This condition can manifest as memory lapses, difficulty concentrating, and problems with multitasking.
“Thirteen years ago, I started my pharmaceutical career at Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital as an intern. My motivation to specialize in cancer pharmacy was sparked by my awareness of the widespread shortage of licensed cancer pharmacists during this time,” he said.
Keetile further said he learnt about the toxicity of cancer medications, while perusing the specialised position, which is where he saw a need for competent individuals in this field. He added that he decided to train to be a pharmaceutical mixer by studying chemo brain.
“I am the only person in the country studying the phenomenon of brain chemotherapy. I look to find niches that are despaired in pharmacy and extend myself in that regard.
“I have published some highly informative articles on chemo brain in reputable peer-review journals and also actively engaged in research to innovatively discover effective treatments for this debilitation,” said Keetile.
Meanwhile, the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital, Dr Johann Fourie, indicated that there is a cohort of patients managed for chemo brain. Fourie said this is a rare skill of managing cancer patients exhibiting chemo brain symptoms, which benefits patients in Dr Ruth Segomotso Mompati District.
“The benefits entails improvement of cognitive domains and ultimately the overall quality of life. This domain includes memory attention, concentration and executive function. The patients in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, are the only cohorts in South Africa who are receiving specialised care and the feedback from them has been positive,” he said.
The Guardian 