Chronic Migraines or brain tumor

Bibbie
Bibbie Member Posts: 26
edited June 2014 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
Chronic Migraines or brain tumor
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  • Bibbie
    Bibbie Member Posts: 26
    edited July 2009

    Hi Everyone:

    I seem to be falling apart. I am 52 and was diagnosed with IDC stage III, 6 positive nodes and a 3.9cm tumor in January 2007. I was thought to have early stage cancer but after a lumpectomy and 2 re-excisions the margins were finally clear. I had 16 weeks of Adriamycin, Cytoxan and Taxotere. I also had 33 daily radiation treatments. They started me on Tamoxifen but after severe daily headaches, I switched to Femara. The headaches improved for a while but now they are worse than ever. I am scared to death. I had a brain MRI about 4 months ago which was negative. I don't know if it's stress or what but I cannot continue to live like this. I am so depressed and afraid of metastasis. I have faith in GOD and was told I am remission but it seems it's one things after another. I found a lump in the opposite breast last month and had a core biopsy and thank GOD it was only fat necrosis from a prior breast lift. Does anyone suffer from severe headaches? Please help1

    Love to All!

    Bibbie

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  • terrij152
    terrij152 Member Posts: 530
    edited July 2009

    Darling, after the stress you've had who wouldn't have severe headaches!  Do you take anything for depression?  I know I wouldn't have made it through both surgeries without taking an antidepressant.  I was on paxil but had to switch to lexapro since paxil wipes out the effects of tamoxifen.  I've been having some headaches off and on, nothing more than usual, but now I give into them and take it as a sign that I need to relax!

    (((((HUGS)))))

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  • Nicole112
    Nicole112 Member Posts: 327
    edited July 2009

    Hi Bibbie,

    I do not have headaches, but I completely UNDERSTAND your fear... I have an issue swallowing, I have had it looked at with an MRI, etc... I was certain that the cancer had progressed... but the tests came back NEGATIVE! I was so grateful, only to confront the fears again and again every time I have this swallowing issue! Needless to say, my issue may be due to anxiety attacks, something I have had since my college years. I have constantly held high standards of myself and a lot of pressure along the way. So, to me, the crazy thing is, we can have tests run, etc... get the good news it is clear but our FEARS and DEMONS make us not believe the results... and we think that all our aches and pains are going to come back with "bad news"! I am confident your headache is just a headache... but hey, I totally understand why you would like to get it checked out and if it eases your mind, DO IT! :)

    I am grateful we have this forum, so we can "openly" discuss our issues and fears and we can lean on each other in times of need.

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  • Member_of_the_Club
    Member_of_the_Club Member Posts: 3,646
    edited July 2009

    I developed migraine headaches after going on tamoxifen.  They get worse in the hot weather.  One thing that helped me was that I went on effexor for anxiety and it seemed to keep the headaches at bay.

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  • buffy
    buffy Member Posts: 73
    edited July 2009

    I am sorry you are still having the headaches on Femara because I too had experienced strange whincing pains in my head, behind my ear to the base of my head.  I experienced this 3 times in the past 1 1/2 years and the last time, last month, I wen to the ER and had a cat scan of my head.  Nothing was found luckily, but it has to be the tamoxifen because I had never had these kinds of headaches before.  They last about 2 weeks.  I wonder if you should try going off the Femara just to see if they go away.  If they do, then you will know for sure it is the Femara...I'd try that...sometimes the SE are not worth it!!  Good luck!

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  • buffy
    buffy Member Posts: 73
    edited July 2009

    I am sorry you are still having the headaches on Femara because I too had experienced strange whincing pains in my head, behind my ear to the base of my head.  I experienced this 3 times in the past 1 1/2 years and the last time, last month, I wen to the ER and had a cat scan of my head.  Nothing was found luckily, but it has to be the tamoxifen because I had never had these kinds of headaches before.  They last about 2 weeks.  I wonder if you should try going off the Femara just to see if they go away.  If they do, then you will know for sure it is the Femara...I'd try that...sometimes the SE are not worth it!!  Good luck!

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  • carcharm
    carcharm Member Posts: 486
    edited July 2009

    I have headaches too. I had a mastectomy 3 weeks ago and postop I had the worst headaches. Nothing seemed to help. Once they took out my drain the headaches got fewer. However, I just went back into the surgeon for a f/u and he removed alot of fluid that had built up around my incision and that throbbing frontal headache is back. I think it's related to the fluid pressures. I know you had a lumpectomy but do you have alot of fluid around the site? It may be related to this.

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  • dreaming
    dreaming Member Posts: 473
    edited July 2009

    I was on medication during my treatment for depression and anxiety.

    I have had several biopsies from my chest wall behind my mastectomy/reconstruction,arm, finger,spots on my skin, and so on... I get  a brain MRI every 2 years, routine, because I have migraines, my doctors are very careful but I never think it could be cancer; I was diagnosed over 15 years , and when time comes to go for my follow up, I am a nut case, the rest of the year I am a calm person.

    Talk to your doctor and see how you can be helped.

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