Newpharmablog. Health News

Things that are nothing to do with cancer such as nervous tension, migraines and sinus problems can of course cause headaches in people with cancer, just as they can in anyone. However, the cause we will discuss here is the one that is likely to worry you the most—cancer in the brain or cerebro-spinal fluid (the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord—CSF for short).

Cancer in these places causes headaches by increasing the pressure on the brain. These headaches are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision. They tend to be worst when you have been lying down for a while and better when you are up and about. Cancer in the brain is a likely reason for headaches that are accompanied by double vision, pins and needles or numbness down one side or weakness in one side. Cancer in the CSF may be accompanied by a stiff back and neck, pains shooting into the arms and legs, and pins and needles, numbness or weakness in any or all limbs.

If you have headaches your doctor should examine you, including looking into your eyes to see whether the pressure on the brain is high. This is not a foolproof test—the back of the eye can look perfectly normal when the pressure on the brain is raised. A brain scan or CT scan will probably be needed in order to be sure of the reason for your headaches. A lumbar puncture will also be necessary if cancer in the CSF is suspected.

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Tags: Cancer . This entry was posted on Monday, May 18th, 2009 at 12:55 am and is filed under Cancer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.