LEWISTON – The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing at Central Maine Medical Center is offering a free workshop for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers dealing with the effect of chemotherapy on the memory. “Chemotherapy-related Memory and Attention Problems” will take place from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Friday, May 20, at CMMC, 12 High St., in conference room A.

Standard and high-dose cancer chemotherapies can have an adverse effect on memory and attention which can disrupt family and occupational function or general quality of life. Sometimes called “chemo-fog” or “chemo-brain”, research has shown that some effects on memory and attention are long-term, lasting well beyond the end of treatment. However, it is also known that not all survivors treated with chemotherapy are adversely affected. Presenter Robert J. Ferguson, PhD, will summarize current knowledge of chemotherapy-related memory problems, the latest thinking in how to treat the problem and practical steps survivors and families can take to cope.

Ferguson is a clinical psychologist with Behavioral Medicine and the Rehabilitation Service of Eastern Maine Medical Center. He is an adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry at Dartmouth Medical School and clinical associate with the Department of Psychology at the University of Maine with research interests in the cognitive effects of chemotherapy and cancer survivorship.

Preregistration is available by calling the Dempsey Center at 795-8250, toll-free 1-877-336-7287 or online at www.dempseycenter.org.