CancerCompass message board discussion started by candycane on 6/25/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25397,0.htm Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ My dad has nonsmall cell adenocarcinoma of lung and brain.  He has undergone Carbo, Taxol, & Avastin.  Chemo worked until maint. dose of Avastin, growing again in lung.  Brain cancer is gone thanks to gamma knife.  Lately, has had terrible headaches, always in forehead but moves around, can't figure out why.  Had repeat MRI and brain tumor is still inactive.  Went by ambulance with symptoms similar to stroke, unable to walk, slurred speech.  Repeat brain MRI, no change.  They are going to do MRI on back now (thinking tumor there) and maybe do a spinal tap to check spinal fluid.  Can't figure out why the weakness though since seen a lot of surviviors with spinal tumors and haven't heard complaints of headaches and generalized weakness.  He was a very independent man until 2 days ago.  Now he can't walk and is on Morphine for pain because headaches are so severe. Does anyone have any information????  I'm hoping because I learn most of my information from all of you.  Please help. candycane Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT              Hi I have a brain tumor. And my doc sent to me to a headach specialist.  I'm on vicodin, and she put me on a medicine called topomax. My pharmacist also told me my chemo causes headaches. I don't know if this is something we have to live with or not. But good luck.                                              Teresa Sunhine 45 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thanks for your response and for the medication suggestion.  I have been looking at the side effects of Gemzar, his chemo drug and severe headache isn't supposed to be one of them.  Although, before that he was on Avastin, which that has a major side effect of headaches. Good luck to you.  I hope your headache goes away.  It doesn't seem like a lot of others suffer from headaches unless they are on Avastin.I went to the natural supplement store.  They recommended a couple vitamins to be used together.  I can send those names to you if you are interested.  One of them was B-6, can't remember the other one, but have it at home.How have they treated your brain tumor?  My dad hasn't been a problem since they did the whole brain and gamma knife.Good luck. candycane Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT My Mum has NSCLC and was given 6 months to live in December 2005 she too has suffered with really bad headaches, weakness,confusion and slurred speech. The headaches have been ongoing for a while but 9 months ago  she experienced the headaches for longer than normal and ended up in hospital completely out of it and on lots of morphine. Our oncologist couldnt work out what was causing it as the scans of the brain etc came back clear. In the end she had a lumbar puncture to see if there were any cancer cells in the spinal fluid. There was no cancer cells but they did discover that Mum had meningitis, once they treated her with the correct antibiotics it was like a miracle and she became so much better. However recently she had a similar attack and we thought it may be the meningitis again but unfortunately it was not and they have now discovered she has cancer in her spinal fluid.I would ask about the risks of having a lumbar puncture if you decide to have that done, i.e can it cause cancer from surrounding tissue to enter spinal fluid? the tablets that sometimes help Mum with her headaches are almotriptan (migraine tablets.) I am not sure if this information is helpful but please email me if i can help with anything else.Donna X Donnar Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT I wanted to update you on my dad's condition.  He was having severe headaches for a week and then was admitted with generalized weakness monday night.  We now know that he had 3 strokes and has gone down hill slowly.  I guess it wasn't bad enough that he was struggling with brain and lung cancer.  I can't believe that he has had to endure so much.  We are all trying to stay positive but he only wakes up occassionally.  We are now on a new journey, battling life post-stroke instead of even worrying about his cancer.  candycane Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 6/30/2008 candycane wrote:I wanted to update you on my dad's condition.  He was having severe headaches for a week and then was admitted with generalized weakness monday night.  We now know that he had 3 strokes and has gone down hill slowly.  I guess it wasn't bad enough that he was struggling with brain and lung cancer.  I can't believe that he has had to endure so much.  We are all trying to stay positive but he only wakes up occassionally.  We are now on a new journey, battling life post-stroke instead of even worrying about his cancer.   Your story sounds just like ours..minus the headaches.  Our Dad had his first dose of Alimta and 12 days later had a massive stroke...some slurry communication for 3 days hence, then near coma state.  As I type this we are headed for hospice.  One night we're watching baseball, the next night we are in ICU.  I was never aware of the stroke risk from adenocarcinoma and have posted to warn others.  It just wasn't discussed with us at diagnosis.  earthmom Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Good luck and take care of yourself.  We lost our father on July 5th.  He did have 3 strokes that we know of but could have had more.  It was very difficult and still is difficult going day to day without him.  He was 66 and in my opinion way to early to leave us.  But on the other hand, we were blessed with a great father and role model for 66 years, some never have that. Take the time to grieve and be with him as long as you can.  I'm truly sorry for what you and your family have to endure, not to mention what he is going through.  Good luck!!!  You are not alone! candycane Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT