A Study of Attention and Memory Processes in Breast Cancer Survivors

Inclusion criteria

For All Paricipants:

• As per medical record or self-report, female
• As per medical record or self-report, age 50-70
• Score of < 11 on the Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test (BOMC)
• English fluent (as per self reported fluency of "well" or "very well", and having a reasonable comprehension of the study conversation in the opinion of the research staff/preference of English language for healthcare)**
• As per medical record or self-report, if currently taking psychoactive medications (excluding gabapentin and including but not limited to antidepressants and anxiolytics) on a daily basis, dose must have been stable at least two months prior to enrollment

For Survivors:

• As per medical record or self-report, AJCC stages 0-3 breast cancer
• As per medical record or self-report, at least 1-year post-treatment for breast cancer (including surgery, and chemotherapy, with or without radiation
• As per medical record or self-report, current endocrine therapy

For Healthy Controls:

• As per self-report, if currently taking psychoactive medications (including but not limited to antidepressants and anxiolytics), dose must have been stable at least two months prior to enrollment.
• As per self report, no history of cancer except non-melanoma/basal cell skin cancer/squamous cell skin carcinoma

Exclusion criteria

For All Participants:

• As per medical record or self-report, diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorder that affects cognitive function (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Dementia, Seizure Disorders, etc.)
• As per medical record or self report, history of stroke or head injury resulting in a structural lesion on neuropsych imaging, persistent cognitive difficulties impacting work or daily life, or required cognitive rehabilitation
• As per medical record or self report, a diagnosis of a Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder, substance use disorder, Bipolar Disorder or Schizotypal personality disorder. Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders include Schizophrenia, Schizophreniform disorder, Schizoaffective disorder, Delusional disorder, Brief psychotic disorder, and Attenuated Psychotic Disorder
• As per medical record or self-report, visual or auditory impairment that would preclude ability to complete the assessments (e.g. history of significant macular degeneration or being unable to correct hearing with hearing aides)
• As per medical record or self-report, use of methotrexate (Amethopterin, Rhematrex, Trexall) or rituximab (Rituxin) for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis or Crohn's disease, or cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar) for Lupus
• As per medical record or self-report, participation in a conflicting research study (i.e. another neurocognitive study utilizing HVLT and BVMT tasks.)

For Survivors only:

• As per medical record or self-report, history of another type of cancer or prior breast cancer diagnosis except non-melanoma/basal cell skin cancer/squamous cell skin carcinoma
• As per medical record or self-report, disease recurrence.

For Healthy Controls only:

• As per medical record or self-report, history of treatment using radiation, chemotherapy, and/or Tamoxifen or Aromatase-inhibitors