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Eurasian Journal of
Medicine and Oncology CRCI factors in breast cancer
emotions. Yang et al. identified a significant interaction support may mitigate the decline in emotional well-being
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between symptoms of depression and anxiety in this and cognitive abilities in breast cancer patients undergoing
patient population. In the present study, the incidence chemotherapy. Healthcare professionals can facilitate this
rates of anxiety and depression post-chemotherapy were by encouraging patients to strengthen communication
48.68% and 48.42%, respectively. There was a negative with family and friends, proactively seek assistance, and
correlation between cognitive function scores and scores improve their capacity to confront personal challenges.
for anxiety and depression (p<0.05, p<0.01). Multiple This approach may help alleviate negative emotions, such
stepwise regression analysis indicated that depression is as anxiety and depression, thereby reducing or preventing
an independent factor influencing cognitive function, cognitive impairment associated with chemotherapy.
corroborating the findings of Bedillion et al. Further At present, intervention strategies for chemotherapy-
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studies have demonstrated alterations in frontal lobe induced cognitive impairment can be broadly categorized
function and impaired hormone receptor function in into pharmacological and non-pharmacological
depressed patients, leading to hippocampal neuron death treatments. Pharmacological interventions primarily
and central nervous system dysfunction, thereby impairing encompass neuroprotective agents, psychostimulants, and
cognitive function. Prolonged exposure to negative traditional Chinese medicine, among others. Nonetheless,
4
emotions has the potential to adversely affect brain the clinical research in this domain is still in its nascent
structure and result in diminished cognitive function. stages, and the efficacy of these treatments requires further
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At present, nursing managers have the capacity to offer validation. Non-pharmacological interventions include
psychological counseling to patients, perform emotional cognitive behavioral training, physical exercise, music
assessments, and facilitate the adoption of positive coping therapy, and meditation. Notably, empirical studies
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strategies through group sandplay therapy. suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy is beneficial for
This study identified a low overall social support score enhancing cognitive function and improving quality of
among breast cancer patients, with a positive correlation life. 37
between social support and cognitive function following The findings of this study indicate that, following a
chemotherapy (p<0.01). Within the dimensions of social 3-month intervention period, both the overall FACT-
support, subjective support scored the highest, followed Cog score and perceived cognitive abilities were elevated
by objective support, while support utilization scored the compared to pre-intervention levels, although they did not
lowest, aligning with the findings of Bailey et al. Breast return to baseline. This suggests that consistent cognitive
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cancer patients express a strong desire for psychological behavioral intervention training may ameliorate cognitive
and emotional support from family and friends. Such social dysfunction in breast cancer patients post-chemotherapy.
support can enhance patients’ psychological well-being, The plausible explanation may be attributed to the repeated
stimulate brain synapses and neurons, and consequently stimulation of neuronal cells through intervention training,
play a compensatory role in maintaining normal cognitive which influences the functions of neurotransmitters
function. Gates et al. implemented a web-based cognitive and receptors within these cells. Furthermore, several
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rehabilitation intervention for patients experiencing post- studies have demonstrated that behavioral interventions
chemotherapy cognitive dysfunction, demonstrating can modulate synaptic plasticity, enhance synaptic
significantly greater cognitive recovery in the intervention transmission, and consequently facilitate the restoration of
group compared to the control group. These findings memory capabilities. 39
suggest that increased understanding and support from
healthcare professionals and family caregivers could be 5. Conclusion
an effective strategy for improving the cognitive status of The prevalence of chemotherapy-induced cognitive
patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. dysfunction among breast cancer patients in this study
This study conducted an in-depth analysis of the was 19.74%. The cognitive function of these patients was
mediating effects among social support, depression, influenced by factors such as education level, payment
and cognitive function in breast cancer patients post- method for medical expenses, family history of breast cancer,
chemotherapy. The findings revealed that the three disease stage, and the presence of complications. Cognitive
dimensions of social support negatively predicted function demonstrated a negative correlation with anxiety
depression, which in turn negatively predicted cognitive and depression, while showing a positive correlation
function. In addition, depression served as a mediator with social support. Multiple stepwise regression analysis
between the three dimensions of social support and identified education level, payment method for medical
cognitive function. Consequently, enhancing levels of social expenses, disease stage, depression, and social support as
Volume 9 Issue 3 (2025) 143 doi: 10.36922/EJMO025130073

