- With Mayo Clinic medical oncologist
Timothy Moynihan, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Timothy Moynihan, M.D.
Timothy Moynihan, M.D.
"As a practicing medical oncologist, I meet with patients and families every day to help manage their course through this disease called cancer. This experience provides unique insight into the needs of cancer patients, their families and loved ones and brings into sharp focus the need for reliable information to be readily available in terms that can be easily understood." — Dr. Timothy Moynihan
Dr. Timothy Moynihan believes that providing consumers accurate, timely information on the broad, complex topic of cancer is the biggest challenge facing medical Web sites. As the guiding force behind our cancer coverage, he makes sure Mayo Clinic meets the test.
Dr. Moynihan, born in Las Vegas, N.M., but raised in Denver, is a consultant in medical oncology at Mayo Clinic and an associate professor at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. He is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hospice and palliative care medicine. He did his medical oncology training at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, and then went on to the University of Minnesota and St. Paul Regions Medical Center in St. Paul, Minn., for seven years before moving to Mayo Clinic in 1999. Dr. Moynihan is director of the palliative care program at Mayo Clinic and associate medical director of the Mayo Clinic hospice.
Dr. Moynihan currently serves as the education chair for the Department of Medical Oncology and fellowship program director. Four times he has been selected as Teacher of the Year in medical oncology and elected to the Teacher of the Year Hall of Fame. Past honors include distinguished clinical teacher at the University of Minnesota Medical School, best internist at the Medical College of Wisconsin and recipient of The Upjohn Achievement Award for Excellence in Medicine. He serves on several national committees for the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
"The Internet provides a ready source of information on a wide range of topics of interest to those affected by cancer," Dr. Moynihan says. "The difficulty is trying to decide which sites provide reputable information and which information is relevant to each individual patient. The long history and tradition of excellence associated with Mayo Clinic assures you that information provided will be reliable, up-to-date and comprehensive."
Tests and diagnosis (3)
- Small cell, large cell: What these cancer classifications mean
- Tumor vs. cyst: What's the difference?
- Atypical cells: Are they cancer?
Complications (1)
- Cachexia in advanced cancer: What's the best treatment?
Treatments and drugs (7)
- EGFR inhibitor cancer therapy: What are the side effects?
- Opiate addiction and cancer therapy: Is it a concern?
- PICC line: How is it used for chemotherapy?
- see all in Treatments and drugs
Alternative medicine (2)
- High-dose vitamin C: Can it kill cancer cells?
- Curcumin: Can it slow cancer growth?
Prevention (1)
- Goji juice: Can it lower my cancer risk?
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Question
Chemobrain: Can Ritalin alleviate symptoms?
Is it true that the ADHD drug Ritalin may alleviate mild cognitive impairment (chemobrain) associated with cancer treatment?
Answer
from Timothy Moynihan, M.D.
Several small, preliminary studies suggest that methylphenidate (Ritalin), a stimulant drug, may alleviate some of the side effects associated with chemotherapy, specifically fatigue and cognitive impairment — sometimes referred to as chemobrain. Larger studies are ongoing to evaluate these findings. At this time, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved Ritalin for this use, and further data are needed before definitive recommendations can be made. In the meantime, if you're experiencing significant side effects from your chemotherapy, talk to your oncologist about treatment options.
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