really disturbing thing happened - brain mets?

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minxie
minxie Member Posts: 484
edited October 2016 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

All of a sudden I could not talk. Rather, I tried to talk and my tongue felt all thick in my mouth and I could tell my voice sounded strange. I asked my son if I was talking weird, and he couldn't understand me and said I was slurring. Then he said my face looked slack on one side and he called 911. This inability to speak correctly lasted about 10 minutes and I was fine by the time the paramedics arrived. They did some basic vitals and tests and said everything seemed fine. They wanted me to go to the hospital for a CAT scan, but I declined.

I know everyone was thinking mini stroke, but there were no other symptoms of that. I'm going to call my oncologist tomorrow, seems like a brain scan is in order.

What does this sound like? If it was brain mets, would this odd symptom come and go quickly like that?

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  • debiann
    debiann Member Posts: 1,200
    edited October 2016

    I don't know about brain mets, but the symptoms do sound like mini-stroke, which would be a more immediate concern because you would then be at an increased risk of having a major stroke in the near future. I would get it checked out right away. Best wishes.

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  • PattyPeppermint
    PattyPeppermint Member Posts: 11,162
    edited October 2016

    I agree sounds like a mini stroke. Def worth getting checked out. Are you on any new meds ?

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  • molliefish
    molliefish Member Posts: 723
    edited October 2016

    As a former paramedic, I urge you not to take this lightly. Brain mets or not, this sure sounds like a stroke. Don't be fooled by the word 'mini'.. .you've been fortunate to have a warning... most are not. Please please please see the doctor!!

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  • Tina2
    Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
    edited October 2016

    It sounds like a stroke. Please get checked out ASAP and report back to us so we know you're okay.

    Tina

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  • minxie
    minxie Member Posts: 484
    edited October 2016

    I'm seeing my doctor in an hour. I'll let you allknow how it goes.

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  • Cafelovr
    Cafelovr Member Posts: 1,534
    edited October 2016

    Well wishes and prayers sent!

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  • artistatheart
    artistatheart Member Posts: 2,176
    edited October 2016

    So glad you are getting it checked out! Let us know how you are....

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  • PattyPeppermint
    PattyPeppermint Member Posts: 11,162
    edited October 2016

    Well it's been 7 hours. Hoping everything is ok.

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  • minxie
    minxie Member Posts: 484
    edited October 2016

    I'm seeing the oncologist at 3 tomorrow to go over the results of today's brain MRI and carotid ultrasound. Hopefully I'll have an answer then.


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  • PattyPeppermint
    PattyPeppermint Member Posts: 11,162
    edited October 2016

    They got you in today quick. Very good. Hoping for good results

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  • minxie
    minxie Member Posts: 484
    edited October 2016

    The brain MRI showed 4 small spots in the right hemisphere, foci they are calling them. They agreed that these look more stroke-like than brain mets. I'm taking baby aspirin and on Monday I see a neurologist to hear his recommendations. Thanks everyone for your help!

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  • Fitztwins
    Fitztwins Member Posts: 7,969
    edited October 2016

    Glad you got in, how do you feel about the news?

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  • minxie
    minxie Member Posts: 484
    edited October 2016

    Both sides of my family have issues - heart attacks, blood clots, strokes, aneurysms. So this is not totally unexpected, I guess. My neurologists appointed got moved up to Friday because he wants to see me sooner, so I guess there is some concern.

    How do I feel? What a world I now inhabit - I'm glad I had a stroke and not brain mets. To a normal person a stroke would be horrifying. But to a stage IV breast cancer patient, it's good news. Crazy.

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  • minxie
    minxie Member Posts: 484
    edited October 2016

    WelI Iended up having a major stroke Friday morning. It was very upsetting. I'm in the hospital, getting out today. They did an experimental procedure to get the clot out of my brain. I feel totally back to normal, minus a wicked headache. They're not positive on the cause. There's a malformation in one of my carotids that may be causing this. They also said cancer can make your blood more coagulable? Anyone know about this?

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  • cive
    cive Member Posts: 709
    edited October 2016

    Don't know about the cancer and coagulable, but I'm really surprised after the first minor stroke you weren't put on an anti-coagulant stronger than aspirin. I've never had a stroke and I am on warfarin, an anti-coagulant, (there are better others) because of atrial fibrillation I never knew I had until the doctor told me I did.

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  • Rosevalley
    Rosevalley Member Posts: 3,061
    edited October 2016

    Minxie- not good that you had a stroke but good you got care right away and are going to be ok. I hope the headache goes away. Take care.

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  • 50sgirl
    50sgirl Member Posts: 2,527
    edited October 2016

    minxie, I hope that you feel better soon. I am sorry that you suffered a stroke, but it sounds like you are recovering. My DH had pulmonary embolisms last year. He was diagnosed with kidney cancer shortly after that, and he was told that the clots were caused by the cancer. The doctors told him that cancer does make blood more coagulable and therefore more prone to the formation of clots. DH was kept on anti-coagulants until several months after he had surgery and was declared cancer-free. Unfortunately, there are currently no tests that can reliably predict who among us will develop clots.

    Lynne

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  • JFL
    JFL Member Posts: 1,947
    edited October 2016

    Minxie, there can be a link to coagulation and cancer. I had deep vein thrombosis in my subclavian and brachial veins a year before my initial BC diagnosis, which was caused by my cancer. This is not common but it can happen.

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  • Barbeqrn
    Barbeqrn Member Posts: 200
    edited October 2016

    Minxie..they should put you on Plavix/Aspirin for stroke...antiplatelet drugs...feel better.....

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  • Fitztwins
    Fitztwins Member Posts: 7,969
    edited October 2016

    I too would be happy it was a stroke and not brain mets. Who would have thunk. Glad you are doing better.


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  • artistatheart
    artistatheart Member Posts: 2,176
    edited October 2016

    Oh minxie, Jeez that stinks. But thank God they caught it and got you the meds you need! I am soooo glad you are back to normal minus the wicked headache. Get well soon and we all hope this episode is just a bad blip on the radar history.

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