Some cancer patients experience cancer-related cognitive change (CRCC). Cognitive rehabilitation interventions (CRIs) have recently been developed to help mitigate the impact of CRCC, which, untreated, can impact resumption of daily life post-cancer treatment. The experience of participants is important to understand but largely absent within research literature. This study aimed to explore how those with CRCC experience the phenomenon following completion of a CRI.

This study comprised a qualitative phenomenological approach. This involved conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 6 self-referred participants from one CRI. Participants were invited to discuss their experience of CRCC and what the CRI therefore meant to them. Interviews were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Analysis of the findings revealed 4 key themes. (1) “Experiencing and addressing isolation” comprises reflections on posttreatment perceived abandonment and consequent feelings of belonging through CRI participation. (2) “Identity” explores participants’ reflections around perceived loss-of-self and feelings of empowerment from the intervention. (3) “Cognitive and physical balance” comprises the planning and choices participants make, supported by both their own and CRI coping strategies as they seek acceptance of cognitive change. (4) “Course reflections” explore reflections on intervention structure, format, and delivery, focusing on 2 subthemes of accessibility, flexibility and inclusivity, and communication. All participants reflected positively on their experience.

Results support further dissemination among health professionals and implementation of this CRI to better support self-reported CRCC concerns within this population. Future qualitative research should explore the long-term impact of CRI interventions.

Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is one of the most frequent and worrying side effects experienced by non-central nervous system (CNS) cancer survivors, generally related to cancer treatments. Considering its detrimental impact on quality of life, including work-related outcomes, it is necessary to identify effective intervention options. Cognitive rehabilitation is considered the first-line intervention to address CRCI, being effective at improving cognitive functioning. Internet-based interventions are emerging as important means of intervention in the field of cognitive rehabilitation (known as cognitive telerehabilitation), considering the potential to overcome accessibility issues and being cost-effective.

To assess the acceptability and expectations regarding such interventions, considering the scarce literature.

A nationwide online survey was disseminated to Portuguese non-CNS cancer survivors, aged 18-65 years, who had finished active treatments, with no metastases/history of neurological or psychiatric disease/alcohol or drug abuse. Preexisting knowledge about CRCI, expectations for support to cognitive difficulties, Internet use for health and support purposes, and intervention needs and preferences in the context of cognitive telerehabilitation were examined; sociodemographic and clinical variables (e.g., age, education, employment status, cancer treatments), as well as cognitive complaints (Portuguese version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive, FACT-Cog), were also assessed.

Findings from this study are important to help health professionals and researchers understand and identify cancer survivors’ needs regarding cognitive telerehabilitation interventions.

This information could be used as a support and guide for the development and delivery of these interventions for non-CNS cancer survivors.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) survivors may show evidence of objective cognitive impairment; however, perceived cognitive problems and their impact on quality of life are less well-understood. The purpose of this study was to explore HSCT survivors’ perceptions of cognitive impairment and its effect on daily life functioning.

Sixty-nine autologous and allogeneic HSCT survivors nine months to three years posttransplant experiencing mild survivorship problems completed a brief structured interview regarding perceived cognitive impairment since transplant. Data were coded and content analyzed. The frequency of participants reporting cognitive problems by domain and associations between reports of cognitive problems and age, depressed mood, anxiety, and health-related quality of life were examined.

Overall, 49 of the 69 participants (71%) reported cognitive impairments after transplant: 38 in memory (55%), 29 in attention and concentration (42%), and smaller numbers in other domains. There were no significant differences in problems reported by transplant type. Of the 50 participants who worked before transplant, 19 (38%) did not return to work following transplant, with 12 citing cognitive and health problems as being the reason. There were significant associations between reports of cognitive impairment and younger age (p = 0.02), depressed mood (p = 0.02), anxiety (p = 0.002), and health-related quality of life (p = 0.008).

A large proportion of survivors reported cognitive impairment following HSCT that impaired daily life functioning. Perceived cognitive impairment was associated with younger age, greater distress and reduced health-related quality of life.