Brain Tumor Phobia

ljlmd84 · November 26, 2005, 6:08am

Sara, one of the site moderators, asked that I post this, just to reassure a few people. I am a physician (internal medicine and emergency medicine) and have noticed a lot of posting about headaches and brain tumors. It is understandable that people who suffer from headaches might wonder whether the headaches come from a brain tumor. Of all headaches experienced, less than 1/2 of one percent are caused by brain tumors. Only about half of all patients with brain tumors develop a headache, and those headaches are likely to be mild. In most brain tumor patients the headache has characteristics similar to those of a tension-type headache. about a third have a headache that is worse in the morning and when bending over. Only about 8% of brain tumor patients have headache as the only symptom of their tumor (i.e., they are also having other symptoms such as weakness in a localized area, numbness, confusion, visual difficulties, speech difficulties, seizures, etc.) The most important thing when you begin having headaches is to be seen initially by a physician to have organic problems such as brain tumors (aneurysms, infections, etc.) ruled out, and be properly diagnosed. In that way the appropriate treatment can be started, and adjusted as time goes by. In over 20 years of seeing (hundreds, ?thousands? of) patients with headaches I have diagnosed exactly 2 people with brain tumors (who did not already know they had one). Almost all the rest had migraines (and a few tension-type headaches; the few aneuysmal bleeds I saw all had a sudden new headache or a change in existing headache.). Once you have a treatment plan established, see a doctor promptly if your headaches suddenly become more severe, their pattern changes, or you notice anything else that is not typical of your "usual" headache. Such changes are to be taken seriously as they can indicate infection, bleeding from aneuysms, certain types of clots, or other serious problems. Well, hope this is helpful.

coquitlam55 · November 28, 2005, 5:14am

Hi Laura,

Thanks for this post and to the moderator who asked you to post it. It's not something that occurs to me because it's something that both my gp and neurologist tell me over and over again. I'm not sure if that's because I used to ask a lot or because they know that it's a common concern among migraine sufferers.

I suffer major visual disturbances and sometimes feel like I'm suffering a stroke and both doctors always reassure me its just a migraine. I've had them so long now, I'm used to them and I only go to the doctor when they change or last for an extremely long time and I can't relieve the pain with the "pain management plan" we've put in place.

I think it's important to stress that a good relationship with your doctor is vital to your recovery / maintenance. Then when you are concerned that you have something more serious than a migraine you are comfortable enough to ask the question.

Thanks again.

Nicky

Fall seven times, stand up eight.
--Japanese proverb

Jon_Romanovich · November 28, 2005, 9:06pm

Hi Laura. I have either a pituitary microadenoma or a Rathke's cleft cyst in my pituitary gland/region. Does that cause headaches? (no pressure to the optic chiasm or anything). Just curious. Not looking for free advice but was curious what a Dr's take on it is.

TCB

Jon

http://elvisfiles.tripod.com/tcb/

Pics of me, wife, stepson, and the King.