Yes to both. What many cancer patients describe as “brain fog” or “chemo brain” is a well-documented condition formally known as cancer-related cognitive dysfunction, and it affects more than half of all cancer patients, sometimes persisting or even emerging after treatment has ended. Symptoms include memory concerns, difficulty finding words, decreased attention and concentration, and a slower speed of processing information — all of which can make it genuinely hard to function at the level you need for work, school, or daily life with family and friends. Wellspring’s Brain Fog program is an 8-week cognitive rehabilitation program developed by Dr. Heather Palmer (PhD Neuropsychology) from Maximum Capacity, offering education, practical strategies, and structured exercises specifically designed to address post-cancer cognitive changes. Participants consistently report meaningful improvements in memory, task management, and overall quality of life after completing the program.
Yes, while cognitive dysfunction has historically been associated with chemotherapy and is often called “chemo brain,” has found that brain fog can occur in cancer survivors who have never received chemotherapy at all. The condition can be triggered by a range of cancer-related factors beyond chemo alone, which means that any cancer patient experiencing memory concerns, difficulty concentrating, word-finding problems, or slower thinking may benefit from the program regardless of their treatment history. Wellspring’s Brain Fog program is designed for cancer patients broadly — not only those who have had chemotherapy — and focuses on helping participants identify the nature of their cognitive challenges and engage in exercises and techniques designed to stimulate and restore brain function. If you are experiencing any of the common symptoms of brain fog, the program is worth exploring.
The Brain Fog program is an 8-week educational and experiential program with weekly 90-minute sessions, led by professionals skilled in cognitive enhancement strategies and grounded in the work of Dr. Heather Palmer, PhD Neuropsychology. Each week, you will learn about post-cancer cognitive changes, identify the specific nature of your own challenges, and practice memory strategies and new ways to complete tasks — all in a structured, supportive group setting with others who are navigating the same experience. Before each session, you will receive an email with handouts containing program content, review exercises, and reflection activities to complete as homework between sessions, helping to reinforce what you learn in class. Class sizes are kept small to ensure a safe, comfortable environment where participants can share, ask questions, and support one another.
Yes, the evidence behind this program is both specific and compelling. The Brain Fog program was developed by Maximum Capacity Inc. and, in a randomized controlled trial, was shown to improve memory, goal management, and psychosocial status. More recent studies on cognitive rehabilitation programs specifically applied to cancer populations have found improvements across multiple areas of cognitive function, including memory, attention, task management, and executive functioning. Notably, a found that a cognitive rehabilitation intervention not only improved perceived cognitive impairment in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, but also reduced anxiety and improved quality of life — suggesting that the benefits extend well beyond cognition alone. In Alberta specifically, changes in memory and concentration ranked among the top three post-treatment concerns reported by breast and hematology cancer patients, underscoring how widespread and impactful this condition is.
Yes, Wellspring offers a dedicated version of the Brain Fog program specifically for patients aged 18 to 39, recognizing that cognitive changes during this stage of life carry unique consequences for education, career development, parenting, and social relationships that a general program may not fully address. The program follows the same 8-week, 90-minute weekly session format and covers the same evidence-based cognitive rehabilitation strategies developed by Dr. Heather Palmer — but the group dynamic is shaped by participants who are at the same life stage and facing the same specific pressures of managing brain fog while trying to maintain work, school, or young family life. This version of the program is exclusively for patients aged 18 to 39 and is distinct from the general Brain Fog program offered to all adult cancer patients. Both versions have waitlists due to high demand, so registering early is strongly encouraged.
Registering for the Brain Fog program is done through your Wellspring account — simply visit the Wellspring program portal, search for Brain Fog and follow the registration steps. Due to high demand and Wellspring’s commitment to ensuring equitable access, class sizes are limited and waitlists are common — members on the waitlist are given first priority for the next available program cycle if they don’t secure a spot in the current one, so joining the waitlist is always worthwhile. Members are also able to attend one Brain Fog program every 12 months, a policy in place to allow as many people as possible to access the support. Before each session, registered participants receive an email with handouts and reflection exercises to complete in preparation, so staying on top of your inbox after registration is helpful.