Rebuilding the mind after cancer: a new remote program offers hope
A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem offers hopeful news: a remote, group-based cognitive rehabilitation program may help survivors regain confidence, improve everyday functioning, and feel less alone.
For many adults recovering from cancer, finishing treatment does not mean the end of challenges.
Up to 80% of survivors continue to struggle with “chemobrain”—subtle but disruptive changes in memory, attention, and mental processing that can make work, relationships, and daily routines unexpectedly difficult.
The intervention, known as CRAFT-G, (Cognitive Retraining and Functional Treatment- Group version) combines cognitive training exercises with an
occupational-therapy-based problem-solving approach and weekly group sessions—all conducted online. In this feasibility study, five adults aged 30-57 participated in six weekly group meetings and engaged in personalised digital brain-training activities. The results were promising. Participants not only reported clinically meaningful improvements in daily performance, but assessments also showed significant gains in their ability to carry out everyday tasks such as managing home responsibilities or organising work demands.
Many also described feeling more understood, supported, and empowered through the group format. While improvements in objective cognitive tests were modest—common in CRCI research—self-perceived cognitive functioning improved for most participants, and physical quality-of-life scores also showed meaningful gains.
“Cancer survivors often tell us they feel like they’ve ‘lost’ parts of themselves after treatment,” says Prof. Yafit Gilboa, the principal investigator of the study. “Our goal was to offer a practical, compassionate, and accessible way to help them regain control—to show them that their cognitive challenges are real, understandable, and, importantly, treatable. Seeing participants improve in the activities that matter most to them is exactly why we do this work.”
Importantly, the remote format proved to be not only workable but genuinely helpful. Participants valued the ability to join from home, maintain their routines, and connect with others who shared similar experiences.
The researchers conclude that CRAFT-G is a feasible, accessible, and potentially effective option for cancer survivors living with cognitive changes—and recommend larger trials to further validate its benefits. In light of these encouraging results, a larger study is now underway to examine the effectiveness of the intervention among a broader group of breast cancer survivors.
The research paper titled “Remote group intervention for adults with cancer-related cognitive impairment: a feasibility study” is now available in Supportive Care in Cancer and can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-025-10114-7.
