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03-05-2013, 11:40 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Irvine, CA (Southern CA)
Posts: 414
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Headaches
Hi Ladies,
Since I started chemo, I have the headache of the century. I call it headache (singular) because it's been non-stop since starting chemo 6-weeks ago. I've searched prior threads and haven't seen a lot posted on this. I take Rx strength ibuprofen and it dulls the pain a few hours and then it's back. My onc scheduled a MRI to be safe but I'm really not worried it's anything but a chemo SE. I've tried all kinds of OTC things and they don't work. I'm hesitant to ask for a narcotic because of the type of work I do. BTW, I don't normally get headaches so this is making me extra cranky. I'm starting to really understand the tired of being tired posts. I went hiking on Saturday (butt buster) and I've NEVER been this out of shape in my life, even after high risk babies. And I regreted it because I was sore afterwards and I really wanted a week that I feel good. Just thankful I really wasn't bothered by the neupogen injection in the hospital. Seems I always feel a baseline of "crappy". Looking for what has worked. I have total respect for you woman who have gone through this. Had no idea! You're all awesome!!! I would be LOST w/o you.
- Julie
__________________
Julie
Live in Orange County, CA
Diagnosed with DCIS Oct. 2012
Bilateral Dec. 19, 2012
IDC, ER/PR-, Her2+++, Grade 3
Stage IIIa
15.6 cm
4/14 nodes + macrometastases
First thing each morning, I try on my bathing suit. Then, nothing worse can happen the rest of the day.
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03-06-2013, 02:31 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: "Love never fails."
Posts: 5,808
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Re: Headaches
Julie,
Headache is on the list of Herceptin side effects http://www.herceptin.com/breast/ Glad your doctor is taking precautionary measures. But it looks to me you have been way too 'active' while getting treatment.
Besides hiking, working, doing ... etc., you've got to give yourself plenty of time to rest. I used to sleep two full days on the weekend after my Thursday afternoon infusion (was able to work on Friday.)
The third week after infusion is probably the easiest week. It might be the best time to do the things you like.
Leisure walk is really the best exercise, in my opinion. But I wouldn't do more than 30 minutes in a stretch.
Hope your headache will improve soon.
Sending you good vibes.
__________________
Jackie07
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html
http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/MultiMedi...=114&trackID=2
NICU 4.4 LB
Erythema Nodosum 85
Life-long Central Neurocytoma 4x5x6.5 cm 23 hrs 62090 semi-coma 10 d PT OT ST 30 d
3 Infertility tmts 99 > 3 u. fibroids > Pills
CN 3 GKRS 52301
IDC 1.2 cm Her2 +++ ER 5% R. Lmptmy SLNB+1 71703 6 FEC 33 R Tamoxifen
Recc IIB 2.5 cm Bi-L Mast 61407 2/9 nds PET
6 TCH Cellulitis - Lymphedema - compression sleeve & glove
H w x 4 MUGA 51 D, J 49 M
Diastasis recti
Tamoxifen B. scan
Irrtbl bowel 1'09
Colonoscopy 313
BRCA1 V1247I
hptc hemangioma
Vertigo
GI - > yogurt
hysterectomy/oophorectomy 011410
Exemestane 25 mg tab 102912 ~ 101016 stopped due to r. hip/l.thigh pain after long walk
DEXA 1/13
1-2016 lesions in liver largest 9mm & 1.3 cm onco. says not cancer.
3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer.
Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement （600mg x2)
10-10 Stopped Exemestane due to r. hip/l.thigh pain OKed by Onco 11-08-2016
7-23-2018 9 mm groundglass nodule within the right lower lobe with indolent behavior. Due to possible adenocarcinoma, Recommend annual surveilence.
7-10-2019 CT to check lung nodule.
1-10-2020 8mm stable nodule on R Lung, two 6mm new ones on L Lung, a possible lymph node involvement in inter fissule.
"I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY." Irene from Tampa
Advocacy is a passion .. not a pastime - Joe
Last edited by Jackie07; 03-06-2013 at 02:38 AM..
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03-06-2013, 08:03 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Philly Suburbs
Posts: 1,709
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Re: Headaches
Hey!
I don't think the MRI will show anything tragic...but I'm glad you're getting it anyway. It's a good baseline picture, just in case...heaven forbid...somewhere waaaaaay down the line...they need to compare scans.
Hope you get some relief soon...headache pain is the worst!
Denise
__________________
1/11-needle biopsy
2/11-Lumpectomy/axillary node dissection - Stage 3c, ER/PR-14/17 nodes
3/11 - Post-op staph infection,cellulitis, lymphedema,seroma,ARRRGH!
4/12/11-A/C x 4, then T/H x 4, H only,Q3 weeks
8/26/11 finished Taxol!!!
10/7/11 mastectomy/DIEP recon
11/11 radiation x28
1/12/12 1st CANCER-VERSARY!
1/12 Low EF/Herceptin "Holiday" :(
2/12 EF up - Back on Herceptin, heart meds
4/2/1212 surgery to repair separated incision from DIEP recon
6/8/12 Return to work :)
6/17/12 Fall, shatter wrist,surgery to repair/insert plate :(
7/10/12 last Herceptin
7/23/12 Brain Mets %$&#! 3cm and 1cm
8/10/12 Gamma knife surgery, LOTS of steroids;start H/Tykerb
8/23/12 Back to work
12/20/12 Injure back-3 weeks in wheel chair
1/12/13 2nd CANCER-VERSARY!
1/14/13 herniate disk in back - surgery to repair
1/27/13 Radiation necrosis - edema in brain - back on steroids - but not back to work - off balance, poor cordination in right arm
5/3/13 Start Avastin to shrink necrosis
5/10/13 begin weaning steroids
6/18/13 Brain MRI - Avastin seems to be working!
6/20/13 quarterly CT - chest, abdomen, pelvis - All Clear!
7/5/13 finally off steroids!!
7/7/13 joined the ranks of the CHEMO NINJAS I am now Tekuto Ki Ariku cancer assassin!
7/13/13 Symptoms return - back on steroids
7/26/13 Back on Avastin - try again!
8/26/13 Not ready to return to classroom yet :( But I CAN walk without holding onto things! :)
9/9/13 Brain MRI - fingers crossed
“ Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds you down or polishes you up is for you, and you alone, to decide. ” – Cavett Robert
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03-06-2013, 11:59 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: New York, New York
Posts: 1,580
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Re: Headaches
Hi,
Do you have a Chinese market near you? Kwan Loong Oil is amazing for headaches. That's what I use, although I don't get them often. Rub the oil on your forehead and under your nostrils, but don't get any in or near your eye. When I do experience headaches, they are (and always have been) behind the eye and painful to the point of tears.
Another tried and true remedy for some is a glass of Coca Cola and then closing your eyes in a dark room.
Be well, feel good,
Karen
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03-06-2013, 12:05 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 129
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Re: Headaches
I have had migraines for 28 years...and was always afraid of having an aneurysm, thinking it was JUST a migraine...well, TCH made me feel super headachy for about a week after. Am only on VitH now and its much better. The good news...evidently cancer trumps migraines because i havent had one in almost a year! Glad you are looking into it though.
__________________
Age 54, married farm wife/school nurse/mom of 5 adult children...March 2012- found 2.5cm hard, non-painful mass on bse. It was not there, and then it was. Yikes.
Biopsy- DCIS, IDC, er-/pr-/her2+++, grade3. 1 node suspicious on us. Biopsy +.
Plan was for Neoadjuvant TCH x6, Herceptin q3w x a year.
May1- first chemo.
May 5- I could no longer feel the mass. Really. Neither could my oncologist.
July 2- 4th TCH- Oncologist cancels last 2 tx due to "complete response"
August6- lumpectomy with axillary node dissection. No disease present in breast. 1 out of 14 nodes + (4mm)
MUGA #2- 72%
Finished 30 rads Oct '12. Mild lymphedema noticed when I had 2 rads left.
Continue Herceptin q3w until next May
April '13- first mammo since surgery- calcium deposits that are " not concerning." Well, they are concerning to ME! Turned loose from surgeon for 6 months! One more Vit H, will make plans then for port removal.
Oct '13- no change in calcium deposits. "See ya in 6 months!" Keeping port for now.
March '14- oncologist says return in 6 mo.
April '14- mammo unchanged. Surgeon will see me in 6 months but no mammo for a year unless something changes. Its getting easier, but oh, boydo i hate that scanxiety! Keeping port until 2 year anniversary of last Herceptin.
Sept'14- bloodwork good, return to onco in 8 months.
Oct'14- surgeon will see me in April '15. Moving on.
May '15- mammo unchanged, keeping same schedule. Tumor markers soon and if all is well port comes out.
July '15-tumor markers normal. See onco in a year. Appt. for port end of month. First grandchild born July 1st- for today, life is good.
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03-06-2013, 11:24 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Irvine, CA (Southern CA)
Posts: 414
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Re: Headaches
KDR, I'll give the herbs a try. I believe in Eastern medicine. I'm frustrated as this has been my recovery week but the headache won't go away. I was in the hospital last week and they gave me vicodin because of the neupogen shot and it was wonderful but don't want to do that for a long time. Thanks for the advise from all.
-Julie
__________________
Julie
Live in Orange County, CA
Diagnosed with DCIS Oct. 2012
Bilateral Dec. 19, 2012
IDC, ER/PR-, Her2+++, Grade 3
Stage IIIa
15.6 cm
4/14 nodes + macrometastases
First thing each morning, I try on my bathing suit. Then, nothing worse can happen the rest of the day.
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03-07-2013, 11:04 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 437
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Re: Headaches
Hi Julie, what helped for me was drinking ALOT of water the day before , and morning of my infusion and also taking extra strength Ibuprophen a hour before the infusion started.
If I took the IB after the infusion it didn't help.
__________________
Linda
Dxed Stage IIIC May 05, 12 pos nodes
er/pr -neg,Her -pos
LVI
Right partial mast & partial axillary dissection-June14,2005
Right modified mast-no clear margins- June 30, 2005
DD AC x4
Taxotere X4 with Herceptin
Rads x 35( 5 fields )
Left prophylactive mast( atypia & hyperplasia found ),
put on Tamoxifen x 1 yr; D/ced due to endometrial thickening
bilateral recon (saline implants)May 06
Nipple recon July 06
metformin 2010
removal of implants due to severe encapsulation, insertion of gummies 2013
Reclast Q yr
NED!!!
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03-07-2013, 01:10 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: New York, New York
Posts: 1,580
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Re: Headaches
Julie-Kwan Loong Oil is an oil. No herbs. Among some of the ingredients: menthol, eucalyptus.
Good luck
Karen
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03-07-2013, 06:38 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Irvine, CA (Southern CA)
Posts: 414
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Re: Headaches
Was getting my infusion today and another patient was on her way to pick up a night guard to prevent grinding her teeth (also causing headaches). What do you know, my other complaint has been my teeth hurting and I've been chewing down pens and pencils like a rodent due to all this stress. So I think the mystery of the non-stop headache is solved - hopefully.
I'm picking up a night guard as I do grind my teeth at night and onc. prescribed lorazepam for the anxiety while we see if this is the problem. I catch myself grinding my teeth now during the day as well.
Cancer does = stress
Thanks all!
__________________
Julie
Live in Orange County, CA
Diagnosed with DCIS Oct. 2012
Bilateral Dec. 19, 2012
IDC, ER/PR-, Her2+++, Grade 3
Stage IIIa
15.6 cm
4/14 nodes + macrometastases
First thing each morning, I try on my bathing suit. Then, nothing worse can happen the rest of the day.
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