Recognition of cognitive complaints for patients with advanced cancer

Fueled by increasing recognition that cancer-related cognitive impairment impacts quality of life among cancer survivors, we suggest that researchers and clinicians expand their focus to acknowledge the impact of cognitive changes for those with advanced cancer. We outline five reasons that patients with advanced cancer would benefit from comprehensive assessments that include questions about cognitive complaints. Advanced cancer has all the characteristics that would lead to cognitive changes. Patients with advanced cancer may have a higher risk for cognitive impairment due to aggressive chemotherapies, higher symptom burden, and greater psychosocial distress. This commentary contextualizes how cognitive complaints may relate to multiple factors relevant to the advanced cancer patient. By simply asking the patient about their perceived cognitive changes, we argue this may be a stepping stone to finding non-pharmacological ways to address cognitive impairment.