Hi everyone, I have posted a few times about the headaches I have been experiencing since TAX 4. Spoke to Oncologist this morning he wants me to have a head scan. I am now really worried and am just wondering what are the signs of spread to the brain. Apart from a headache I am experiencing blurry vision in my right eye.
Love Westland x x
Don’t know the answer to your question but wondering if you’ve had your eyes tested recently? Also blurry vision can be caused by things like blepharitis which causes your eyes to produce more tears. Again a good optician should be able to advise.
It’s probably good to have a scan though. I’ve had lots of headaches since just prior to my treatment and since. Having the scan ruled out mets and has now meant trying to find the cause - looks like mine are related to neck problems which worsened a lot during tax - I’m now having physio.
We always worry and think the worse. I hope you get your scan quickly and that it shows nothing to be concerned about. Elinda x
Thank you Elinda for replying. I wear contact lenses so have my eyes checked every 6 months. It was reassurring to know that your scan was clear and that you headaches are caused by your neck, not nice for you but I think we all cope better when we known its nothing sinister. It didn’t help when the Oncologist said to me that he had had a couple of ladies with Oest+ cancer that had spread to there brain.
Hope my scan appointment comes through soon.
How are you finding TAX?
Love Westland x x
Like you I had 4 x Tax and I finished that treatment about 20 months ago. I found tax very hard and was hospitalised at one point. I’m sure it affected my muscles and joints as I’ve had a number of problems since. It’s a long story but I’m back having physio now which seems to be having some effect at last.
Your Onc is being cautious and its always best for them to check because you’ll keep worrying about it anyway. It’s probably because he’s had a couple of patients with mets to the brain that he’s being extra cautious but remember that most do not.
The contact lens check - that’s different from an actual sight test though isn’t it? Also it’s possible taht the treatment has affected your eyes a bit particularly if its put you into menopause or your on tamoxifen. Still worth another check there perhaps? Elinda x
Hi,
I am experiencing exactly the same thing. I finished chemo 4 weeks ago and have been getting really bad headaches and flickering vision on the right side. My doctor has done blood tests to rule out infection but has said if that shows nothing I will also have to have a brain scan.I know what you are going through but I do think that they are just being very thorough and doing the scans as a precaution but it is still very worrying. xxx
Hi Westland and Joannie,
I too have had an MRI of the brain to make sure all was well. It certainly stopped me worrying. I was having problems with my eyes, two occasions of feeling really queer and headaches. The scan was clear.
It is now 2 1/2 years since I finished tax and 1 1/2 years since I finished Herceptin. I still have problems with one eye and no-one can find the reason why.
Fingers crossed for both of you.
E
elinda45, My first 2 TAX were copable, but the 3rd and 4th have been hard.I am due 5th TAX on Thursday and I am dreading it more than usual, probably because I don’t seem to have had any good days since the last 1.
I have been pushed into an early chemo menopause so I do wonder if that could be the cause of the headaches.
Im sorry you are still suffering so long after your treatment and hope that the physio keeps improving things for you.
Hi Joannie, Did you get your headaches whilst on Chemo? I know my oncologist is being thorough and if i didn’t have a scan I’d still be worrying so better to get it checked out. Don’t know about you but I feel liked ive aged 20 years with the worry and treatment that BC puts you through. Would be nice if you could let me know how things go with you (only if you want to).
Love Westland x x
Hi Westland,
I do feel for you because the worries cancer throws at as are just tough to live with. I already have secondaries since 2002 and did go through a bad long spell of headaches & nausea and was convinced it had gone to my brain. An MRI ruled that out thank goodness and over time the headaches went, without any obvious cause. Part of the problem is the more we worry the worse it gets but how on earth are we supposed to not worry! It is good that your onc has ordered a scan for you - better safe than sorry eh? So I really hope all is clear and you don’t have to wait too long. I also found and was told that chemo can mess with the eyesight and it takes a while to settle once chemo is finished.
Dawn
xx