Dry eyes, mouth and skin for me. Worst and greatest effect on my day to day is my memory is shot. And the Docs say it may never get better. That is the only one that scares me.
DaveJ

Chemo takes its toll on all of your organs, of which the skin is one. I have some continual rashes that seem to have stemmed from it -- nothing that I really get alarmed about, but in the same areas where I had a problem when in chemo. I am over five years out so you would think that I have probably recovered to the extent that I can. However, I have seen my blood numbers, especially platelets moving in a positive direction over the six month periods when I have had check-ups -- I now only have them annually.

DaveJ -- don't give up on your memory -- the brain is very robust -- perhaps try some mental exercises -- I like FreeCell -- and it is free -- forces your brain to think in terms of alternatives.

One year should be long enough for the major part of the recovery from chemo to take place, but I expect that in some cases it may take longer. -- daveB

Dave, I had a chemo memory fog after BMT. Most of it lasted about a year after, then slowly got better. I still do "memory exercises", such as if I can not member someones name, I'll keep think about it for days trying to dig it out from my head instead of looking it up and I usually succeed. Afterwards I usually can recall it pretty easily again. Chemo probably contains neurotoxins that cause this problem so perhaps looking into diet or supplements that would help with "detox" and regeneration might be worth doing

My eyes have always been dry, and the treatment made my left eye worse. I try to drink lots of fluid and use the artificial tears when needed. My skin hasn't really been an issue. It is dry, but no different than before.

Amesch, have you tried Cetaphil. The lotion and the body wash are really very good for the skin and they sell it at COSTCO around here!

Dave B. I am going to look up FreeCell. I am convinced that my mental acuity suffered from the treatment and really hasn't returned to baseline. Nevertheless, since I am still not working at my profession, I think the level of stimulation (lack) has had effects of its own.

One good thing about chemo brain (and this is true). There is evidence that chemotherapy DECREASES the risk of dementia, including Alzheimers. So maybe a bit of a fog is not that bad.

Dave J. As Dave B says, keep doing mental exercises. I don't do enough and am really going to take Dave B's advice.

Anxiety about memory loss only increases it. We need to look at the big picture, and be thankful that we are alive to have chemo brain to complain about.

Cliff

For the memory loss folks, throughout treatments and since then I was doing Lumosity. They have free trials where you can do 3 mind exercises a day and never have to pay. I do that and sometimes a crossword puzzle each morning to "wake up" my mind for the day.

I'm going to check out the freecell and lumosity. Thanks for the suggestions, I appreciate it.
DaveJ