Do i have brain cancer?

hypercondriac115 · New User Joined: 21 Jun 2009 Posts: 1

Do i have brain cancer? very worried.?
im 16 and lately i have been very worried that i have a brain tumor. i experience a certain type of headache every 1 or 2 weeks, its a headache that only hurts when i move my head. i am also seeing a glow or fuzz around streetlights and car lights. its like an aura or something. i also see starbursts or spikes around far away lights. the stars around the lights all have the same shape and lengths of spikes. im not sure if this is just because my eyes are bad or what. my friends have told me that they see the glow around lights and also see spikes but i dont know if there the same ones im seeing. i also feel a pressure every now and then in my left temple. it feels like its coming from my vein and is a weird tight / tingling feeling. im not sure if these are normal or somthing else but i am a chronic hyperchondriac. i also feel as if my eyes are not working together somtimes, it feels like its hard to focus or as if my eyes are crosseyed. but there not..
im sure some of it is just my head messing with me but i want to be sure.

ps. ive also been the doctor and told him about the headache, pressure in my temple, and the feeling of not being able to focus. but i was not worried about the glow / starbursts. im not sure if its because i just hadent noticed them yet or they wernt there at all... he said it wasent a brain tumor but i seem to be gaining more symptoms of a brain tumor as time passes. HELP!

Oak · Regular Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 22

From every story I've heard, finding brain cancer almost never starts with headaches. Not impossible but not likely.

As a personal sufferer of migrains, a lot of what you describe sounds dead on for migrain suffering. The light effects, pain, aura effects.

I'd really look at that first as it seems far more likely. Migraines can cause lots of strange effects too. Do a little web searching and I'm sure you'll see some similarities. Not saying that it is what you have, I'm not a doctor, but it is a suggestion.

justAdad · Regular Joined: 21 Aug 2007 Posts: 17

Along with the discomfort this is obviously causing you some stress. Brain tumors present themselves in different ways so there is no one set of symptoms.

You need to get to the cause of your headaches and get the proper treatment going. Some doctors are poor at listening and communicating. Go to the doctor again (or another doctor) and do not leave until he/she devises a PLAN for determining the cause of your headaches. If he says it is not a brain tumor, ask him what the cause is then. Ask him what he is going to do about it. You have to be persistent with some doctors. If you still feel unsatisfied, get another doctor. Their job is to help YOU so don't be afraid of asking them direct questions...over...and...over...again...until you get an answer.

The odds of you having a brain tumor are very low. Very low. But you need to understand what is going on in your noggin. If your insurance is sufficient, you may even consider going to the ER when you are having a terrible episode. They will likely order a scan then and there to rule out a tumor.

Good luck.

brainman · Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:03 pm Post subject: Re: Do i have brain cancer?

I assume you are talking with your parents about this concern of yours? If not, you should do so and not depend on the input of strangers. Since we do not know much about you or your situation, it is very difficult to say what is causing your headaches. There are some good things for you to consider.

1. Primary brain cancers are relatively rare so the odds are in your favor.
2. Primary brain cancer is primarily an old person's disease. Yes, there are some types of brain cancers that occur in younger people but those are even rarer.
3. While it is not impossible for headaches to be an indicator of cancer, there are so many other things that could cause headaches that are much more common than cancer.

Certainly, I do not what to blow off your concerns. Something is causing your headaches. I am just trying to encourage you. Continue to work with your parents and medical team to find the root cause for your headaches.

Your are in my thoughts and prayers.
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Pasavat · New User Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Illinois

Have you seen an ophthalmologist (eye doctor)? Has anyone mentioned the possibility of seizures? There are a number of conditions this could be. It might be helpful for you to keep a written log of your symptoms and show it to your doctor. The more information you provide to your doctor, the better s/he will be able to help you. Unfortunately, sometimes young patients are not taken seriously. You have to be persistent. And I totally agree with Brainman that your parents need to be involved. Best of luck to you and please report your progress!!!

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