LONDON, Oct 2 (KUNA) -- People with a history of cancer are 40 percent more likely to suffer memory problems than those who have never had the disease, researchers said Saturday. Survivors who have been given the all-clear are likely to experience loss of functioning alongside those currently battling the disease. Experts believe memory problems are caused by the effects of treatment, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapies, or due to the way the cancer tumours grow and behave, which could change brain chemistry. Research presented at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting in Denver, and highlighted by the media here, focused on almost 10,000 people from a wide range of backgrounds taking part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The group was split equally between men and women and all participants were aged 40 and over. Of the total sample, 1,305 people had cancer currently or had suffered in the past, while 8,514 had not had the disease. All those taking part underwent a physical examination and were asked the question: "Are you limited in any way because of difficulty remembering, or because you experience periods of confusion?" Memory problems were reported more often by people who currently had cancer (14 percent) than by those who did not (8 percent). People who had suffered suffered cancer in the past also had around a 50 percent higher chance of suffering memory loss. The researchers, led by a team at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, concluded: "Overall, participants with cancer had a 40 percent greater likelihood of having memory problems that interfered with daily functioning. "Cancer history is an independent predictor of memory impairment." - Kuna