Headaches?

davidgskinner
davidgskinner Member Posts: 81
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hi all,
I have been getting intense, skull splitting headaches in the past couple of months. I completed chemo (cisplatin), radiation and a partial next dissection about a year ago. I have visited multiple different specialists and -ologists. Can't seem to find a lot of help for this. Have any of you had similar experiences?

Comments

  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    #2
    Headaches
    Mine aren't skull splitting but I've been getting a headache everyday for about a month now. I see my rad onc on the 31st and plan on asking him about them. Wish I could be of more help but I don't have the answers, just wanted to let you know that you are not alone.
  • MarineE5
    MarineE5 Member Posts: 1,030 Member
    #3
    Carotid Arteries
    David,

    One thing that is often over looked is the side effect of the Radiation to the Carotid Arteries. The DNA changes in all the tissue that is radiated and the Carotid Arteries are in the line of the beam during our treatments. Many times the arteries narrow and put us in danger of a Stroke. Another side effect is High Blood pressure.

    When I get my routine or any checkup by a Doctor, I ask them to listen to my Carotid Arteries to make sure I have good blood flow. My Radiation Oncologist informed me to make sure that I do this.

    My Best to You and Everyone Here
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #4
    MarineE5 said:

    Carotid Arteries
    David,

    One thing that is often over looked is the side effect of the Radiation to the Carotid Arteries. The DNA changes in all the tissue that is radiated and the Carotid Arteries are in the line of the beam during our treatments. Many times the arteries narrow and put us in danger of a Stroke. Another side effect is High Blood pressure.

    When I get my routine or any checkup by a Doctor, I ask them to listen to my Carotid Arteries to make sure I have good blood flow. My Radiation Oncologist informed me to make sure that I do this.

    My Best to You and Everyone Here

    Headaches

    I believe headaches are something that most of us get as a reminder of what we went through. Most of mine are on the left side of the head and are very painful at times. I also did some test like MarineE5 said to check my Carotid Arteries and found it to be 40% blocked from the Radiation treatment. Now my heart doctor checks me just about every time I see him to make sure nothing has changed.

    All the best
    Hondo
  • davidgskinner
    davidgskinner Member Posts: 81
    #5
    Hondo said:

    Headaches

    I believe headaches are something that most of us get as a reminder of what we went through. Most of mine are on the left side of the head and are very painful at times. I also did some test like MarineE5 said to check my Carotid Arteries and found it to be 40% blocked from the Radiation treatment. Now my heart doctor checks me just about every time I see him to make sure nothing has changed.

    All the best
    Hondo

    Thanks...
    Thanks for the help. I hadn't considered damage to an artery as contributing to these things...As it turns out, I also am starting to take high blood pressure meds as of today; my blood pressure was never high before. I will follow up with my -ologists.
    "...the gift that keeps on giving..."
    Thanks again to you.

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