Brain mets question?

HearMeRoar

Hi everyone. I have not been diagnosed with brain mets at all. My symptoms began yesterday. My head, forehead, and face are all numb and tingly. I feel fine otherwise just very, very worried. I am 43 years old, a 7 year BC survivor and a 1 year endometrial cancer survivor (brought on by tamoxifen). I guess I'm not looking for any scary stories - simply some information. Maybe someone had these symptoms and it was completely something else? Thanks in advance for sharing. Hope you are all hanging in there and ready for a good weekend.

Bengal

Are you on any medication now or did you start a new medication recently. I had a reaction to medication (Letrozole) that made my face and mouth go numb. It was scary at the time. Pharmacist said it is a rare reaction and stop taking it immediately.

HearMeRoar

Thanks @bengal! So it started happening right after I ate tuna fish yesterday. Weird! No new medication tho. I appreciate your reply.

Bengal

Interesting. Maybe something in the tuna?? Or a reaction between the tuna and a medication.? It was actually Exemestane that I had the rare and unusual reaction too.

Definitely something you might want to bring up with your oncologist.

Oh, P.S. Endometrial? One reason I refused tamoxifen.

GregP_WN

Hi HMR. Have your symptoms cleared up all the way? Or are they still hanging on? If you still have them, how are your hands, arm, leg, is one side of your face droopy? These are the symptoms I had and it was a mini-stroke, or TIA. I called my oncologist worried about the same thing you are, they told me to get to the ER and tell them my symptoms. I did, they did every test they usually do on us and came out to tell me I had blockage in my right interior carotid artery. They said I would need a stent put in to open it up. 3 days later, they did that procedure. I've been fine since, but it was a bit scary. And, when I had those symptoms, mine only lasted 30 minutes.

I have no idea if that is what you're experiencing, but if you are still having symptoms a trip to the ER is in order. I know you probably don't want to go, I've been there a dozen times, most of the time it's a wasted trip worth 5K. But twice or thrice it was actually something.

Get that checked.

Bug

Hi, HearMeRoar. It's good to hear from you though I'm sorry this is the reason. Yes, I think I'd call my onc.

HearMeRoar

Hi Greg! Thanks for the info! It appears I’m going into day 3 with forehead and under eye pressure and tingling not really a headache at all. Nothing in the extemeities. I have my 6 month onc visit Monday. I hope to not have to say anything to her I don’t want any part of test anxiety. Ugh. Thanks for the replies. Maybe I’ll be back tomorrow to say it is gone haha.

TerriL

Even if your symptoms are gone by Monday, please tell your oncologist. They need to know.

Bengal

HearMeRoar. You started out wondering if this might be an indication of Brain Cancer. Don't be foolish. Talk to your oncologist on Monday!!!!

MLT

Yes, please report all new symptoms! Does your onc have an emergency number you can call now? I wouldn't mess around with this

HearMeRoar

Bah stop the name calling. I am nervous over here trying to remind myself that we get other things like everyone else that isn’t related to cancer. The more I read and experience the more I’m also curious about it being sinus or tension related. We will see what I decide to do. Normally I’m of the mindset of the two week period... like with any ache and pain.

ChicagoSandy

Could be sinus infection, but also (the bilateral tingling) a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. Ask your primary or MO about getting a specialist consult & even possibly imaging, But they--not us--should render the diagnosis!

LiveWithCancer

It really could be something with the tuna and your meds.

I would definitely bring it up to doctor. An MRI might be a really good idea, just to be sure.

I am sorry you are experiencing this. Hopefully it is something easy to fix!!

HearMeRoar

Hi! It has actually turned into congestion. Happy about that ha. Now I’m hoping it’s not corona.

KB2013

Brain mets don’t cause symptoms. I have history of them, go next week for regular brain mri to see if there are any new ones.
While ptomaine poisoning (you mentioned tuna) can cause numbness/tingling, it’s rare.
Do you have neck problems at all?

LiveWithCancer

@KB2013, praying there will be no new METS. Have you had previous METS radiated to get rid of them? I worry about brain mets sometimes since they are so common for lung cancer patients.

KB2013

LWC, I’ve had ten mets, treated nine times with GK. So far they’ve been located in treatable locations. If you haven’t had recurrence of your ca and are NED and never had a brain met earlier on, I wouldn’t worry much...just get the suggested annual mri.

LiveWithCancer

KB2013, i have only had one brain MRI since being diagnosed! And rhat was in the first 7 months after diagnosis.

I wish i was NED. Never have experienced that, "just" stable. I had a new spot show up (first time since diagnosis to have a new spot) on my last scan. Doctor said it may or may not be malignant. We will know more after scan in Sept. Gratefully, i have never had a brain METS.

HearMeRoar

Thanks for the replies and I should have titled this differently. I am still concerned about the possibility of but as weird as my symptoms are iI am rescheduling my appointment and am doing a COVID test in the morning:

HearMeRoar

I don’t currently have recurrence of original cancer

KB2013

LWC, it’s weird that you have not had an annual mri considering you have never been NED and with a new ‘spot’, I’d tell the onc you want your brain scanned. I have been getting brain mri every 3 months since 2014 and can’t stop ‘til 2024 provided there’s nothing there then, it goes to once per year. I hope your onc agrees you are overdue for a brain scan. Let us know what he says.