Brain mets what are the symptoms?

[sarahlousie]

Hi M,
Thanks for getting back to me with your words of wisdom, I am going for an appointment ct scan of neck and torso results on friday so will ask them about my headaches and dizzy spells, also laurie recomended asking for an MRI scan for the head, so will ask them for that instead of another ct, they don't seem to like doing lots of ct scans.
I always sufferend with hormonally charged headaches/migraines before this BC stuff and now realize it could of been a sign that I was going through early menopause anyway. Definately in menopause now have not had a visit from my monthly since last May whilst on chemo and have the associated symptoms ie: terrible hot flushes albeit helped now from the clonidine I am taking. Infact thinking about it the dizzyspells seem to accompany my flushes, maybe they are connected.
Thank you for your help M, loving the pic of your new kitten, missed you on live chat tonight,
love to you
sarahlouise xx

[Guest user]

Hi sarahlouise
When I was diagnosed with brain mets I had only quite minor symptoms. I was getting travel sick (I'd never had that before) + I felt a bit dizzy when I was walking around and I seemed to be rather clumsy. The biggest met was found in my cerebellum which is apparently responsible for balance and fine motor control. All the symptoms subsided after treatment with gamma knife.
The problem with brain mets is that the symptoms can vary a lot depending on which part of the brain is affected. Headaches and visual disturbances can be a sign but they can also be caused by low hormone levels if you are on anti hormone medication. Chemo can also cause similar SE's.
Some women have seizures before the brain mets are found (loss of movement on one side or in one limb, facial paralysis, speech and/ or memory problems). Some women have no symptoms at all. I know this probably isn't very helpful but I think that at the end of the day there is no harm in you asking your onc to investigate your symptoms but please try not to panic as there is a good chance that the cause is something other than brain mets.
Mxx

[sarahlousie]

Hi all,
Spent yesterday on the sofa with a banging headache took the usual paracetamol/codeine which took the edge off but its got me wondering again if this is something more sinister. I had an episode back in Jan whilst having rads because I was at the hospital at the time of the migraine they did an emergency ct scan without contrast and were happy all was ok and it was just a migraine. I do experience some giddyness from time to time but put this down to not being used to putting on weight (first time in my life thanks to tamoxifen) and being on herceptin.
Can anyone enlighten me on the symptoms of brain mets (I already have lung mets) ? Any advice would be most appreicated.
Love and light sarahlouise xx