I am scared...

Parentof1

   Hi.  I thought this would get easier, but I am not sure ...  Here is about me:  Diagnosed 7/2009 with IDC, 1 CM, Stage 1, Grade 2, 0/2 node involvement, ER & PR+ HER2 negative.    Had Mastectomy. Been taking Femara 2.5 mg, having Zomate Infusion 1x per year as I was Osteoarthritis Stage 3 B-4 being diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

  I have had chronic Sinus issues/infections ect for years.  December 15, 2010 was put on Doxycycline by promary doctor for Sinus.  No labs done then.  One week ago was back to primary after waking with awful head pain behind both eyes. He changed me over to, Cefuroxime 500 mg 2 x per day due to Sinus not clearing up all the way-no labs this time either.

  Last Wednesday night ended up at emregency room, due to the worst headache on right side behind eye.  CT scan of Sinuses done.  One showed some mucous but no infection.

  Also have had horrible neck pain.  I broke several vertebrae in my neck in 1983 nd had to have both Posterior and Anterior Fusions done.  When I turn head, I can hear neck/bones crack.  Sorry don't mean to be so graphic.

  My concern fear is/was:  Is this kind/type of headache the same as happens with Brain mets/cancer?!

   I called my Oncologist.  She did not "think" this was/is brain mets/Cancer but said:  "To put your mind at rest we will do a brain CT scan both with and without contrast. 

   This was done last Friday late afternoon.  The radiologist that did my CT said:  "If the Neuro that reads this see anything, he will call your Oncologist or whoever is on-call right away, and they will call you back about this tonight if anything is found." 

   However this was coming from a Radiologist that took my CT scan, not any doctor or my Oncologist.  So far, I have not received a call so in one sense I think, "All must be well."  But a part of me is absolutley terrified still.

   I just don't know what to think.  I have never had brain mets, but have never had such a headache as I did Wednesday night when I ended up in ER either.

  I also thought maybe some of this could be from Arthritis/Osteo/and just plain getting old and coming from neck that was broke and fused together 30+ years ago now.

   I need to know what opinions you fine folks have on this please!  Also another question for those of you that have walked this road for awhile...Does this fear ever get any better?

   I thought, I was doing okay but I am not sure anymore.  Since my CT my hands have shook, I am not sleeping-but don't on the Femara anyway...lol!  And other things like this.

   I thought this road would get easier to deal with, and one would think I would be handling this better than this after 1.5 years on Femara and after being diagnosed.  But I just don't feel, I have progressed much I guess.

   Thank you all for allowing me to ask, learn, and lean on you!  I so appreciate this-  Please email me or post back, to let me know if you think this is mets to brain...I am absolutley terrified!

   Thank you so much!  Peg

LRM216

Parentof1:

Unfortunately, I have no sage advice to offer up, but do know that sinus infections can get Very nasty.  Have any ativan or xanax to take until you hear something concrete????  If not, call the onc or standby onc and request some - even if just enough to get you through until you hear something.

I want to wish you the best of luck with the news you hear.  I am praying that it will all be ugly,nasty sinus and nothing cancer related.  Stay as strong as you can until you hear something.  Will be thinking of you.

Linda

Jenna1961

parentof1,
I get sharp headaches from sleep deprivation. Maybe some evening exercise would help you sleep better. To me, it is absolutely essential to have 7-8 hours of sleep daily. It also helps to be calm and unconcerned when going to sleep. Can you ask your oncologist for the CT scan results just for the peace of mind. At our agency, all documents/results are accessible to patients.
Also, for the sinuses, did you tray inhaling the eucalyptus oil vapor (or lavender oil vapor) - it has powerful antibacterial and antifungal effects and no nasty side effects of antibiotics. My friend finds long term effects of antibiotics even worse for her sinuses, she would regularly suffer from fungal infections because of them.

Jenna

Parentof1

   Yes, I do know Sinus Infections can become quite nasty.  Have had these chronically for years.  Some get colds and, mine go to Sinus.  Thanks for the thoughts-

Parentof1

  Oh yes, I will be asking for Scan results. Already did this last Friday when Radiologist did the CT scan....so my mind was operating somewhat.  Notice I say "somewhat"...lol! 

   I have not tried the Eucalyptus Oil Vapor or Lavender Oil Vapor yet, as typically when I get a nasty Sinus Infection I have symtoms such as plugged head,horribly sore and raw throat and usually mine drain into chest causing Bronchitis.  This time I had the raw throat, but would bend over and nose ran clear like a faucet.

  But will get some Eucalyptus tomorrow and try this.  Yes I also get the fungal thing.  In fact had some Fluconazole here, for Yeast.  Took this last night and wella this morning no sore. raw throat at all ! So I am absolutely convinced some of this crud as I call it is related to fungus, yeast ect.

  But trying to convince my primary doctor that these things are related to fungus has been a horse of another color! 

   Thanks so much for your reply and encouragement-

Parentof1

  Hi LRM216.  Yes, I know Sinus junk can get quite nasty.  I have had these all my life chronically.  (Usually Fall and Winter)  But I am also convinced Sinus is fungal.  Along with the infections I get, I get the sore, raw throat. 

  However last night I took one tablet of Fluconazole that I had here.  (This is a perscription usually used for Yeast type infections.)I woke up this morning and wella the raw, sore throat was gone!  So, I do think some of these things are fungal in nature.  However can't convince my primary MD of this! 

   No, I don't have any Xanax or Avitan.  But if I don't here something tomorrow, I will be calling for this and, also for results that they should have by then I would think.

   Thank you for your thoughts Linda-  I noticed you have family in Stillwater.  We are in Bloomington, MN-  Have a wonderful night:)  Peg

LRM216

Peg -

Try to get through the night as best you can.  If you were a lot closer, I'd drive over with some of my ativan, but I'm here in Atlanta, GA.  My daughter lives in Stillwater, too bad I'm not there now.  Please keep us posted as to what you learn.  I care.

Linda

somanywomen

Parentof1.....I wish Docs would not leave us hanging, and so nervously waiting for test results....We all have been there at one point or another....I know that ever new ache I am wondering if "IT" is back!!!...Last week, I kept getting up at night to go to bathroom (about 3x a night) thought for sure something was wrong with my kidneys..Then I thought "what am I doing different?', well turns out those benedryl I was taking to help me sleep were also a diuretic..But this is our new reality once we were blindsided we can't take anything too lightly.....Hope you get some comforting results soon....

carcharm

Since chemo-when I yawn I get these horrific headaches that shoot up from my jaw and nothing alleviates it. They did CT of neck and found degenerative joint disease in cervical neck but nothing else. Not sure when your chemo was but I also had other nasty joint pain especially in my knees even after I was done... to the point that I got a steroid injection. I think the drugs we take chemo, femara, etc... have very individualized side effects on each of us. I guess what I am trying to say is maybe it's the effects of the drugs.

Parentof1

  Hi all.  Just an update on CT Scan done last Friday of brain.  My Oncologist called today and said, "Your scan was absolutely perfect."  So I can now breathe again...lol!

   I did not have Chemo, as when I was first diagnosed 18 months ago my Oncologist did a test called Oncotype-DX.  My BC was ER+. PR+. and HER negative .  This Oncotype DX test has a rating score from 1-100.  My score was lower, like 8.  So, my Oncologist did not feel Chemo would be needed.  She said, "Studies had proven, those with BC that is PR+, ER+ and HER negative and with low Oncotype DX scores get no more benefit from Chemo and then after Chemo strating Femara. "  She said, "In most cases studied, where again a BC was PR+, ER+ and HER negative, and Oncotype DX scores came back in the low range there was no benefit to doing Chemo.  So I have been on Femara 2.5 mg for 18 months.

   Femara also has it own side affects, and each person does not necessarily experience all the SE's that another individual would.  My side affects are:  Horrendous hot flashes-Waking up absolutley damp in the middle of the night, with my hair glue to me all wet too; Achy bones/joints-but not sure how much of this is due to the Femara or, my cervical issues with fusions done in 1983...and now good ole arthritis also. It's so much fun to age (NOT)...lol!  And of course with the hot flashes, I don't sleep much or like one should.

   But all in all, I have tolerated as well as one can these SE's.  I also want to say a big thank you, to all of you!  This web site/the forums have been such a blessing and source of support-

    

Nana60

Parentof1 - Yey for the great news!!! Hugs~

LRM216

Parentof1:

I am so happy for you.  Although the hell of waiting is inhumane, as far as I am concerned, it does us all well when good news is delivered, in making us realize yet again, that not everything we feel and fear has to be cancer.  Enjoy your wonderful news!