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Head pains

Maz18
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Hi

I completed 30 sessions of radiotherapy and two cisplatin (chemotherapy) sessions ten weeks ago.  This was for my left tonsil and lymph node cancer.  I have coped pretty well and haven’t had pain relief after the first two weeks of completion, but the last couple of days I’ve been having what I can only describe as ice cream headaches, although not as painful as those it has been quite bad. It seemed to be around my ears just a flash of pain maybe 1 or 2 seconds long on either side of my head and now occasionally at the back of my head. My nurse suggested I see my GP incase I have an infection but my temperature is normal and I feel okay and I’m pretty sure they’ll not have a clue.  Could it be the result of nerve damage caused by radiotherapy?  I don’t have a headache just these little flashes of pain.

thanks

  • Dear Maz18,

    Thank you for contacting Macmillan. I can see you have joined our online forum too and I hope you find it helpful. My name is Denise, and I am one of the Macmillan Cancer Information Nurses on the helpline.

    I am sorry to read you have been diagnosed with tonsil cancer affecting your left side with lymph node involvement. It must be a difficult time for you.

    I understand you have had radiotherapy and two cycles of Cisplatin chemotherapy. As we do not have access to NHS medical records, we can’t diagnose over this platform so you have done the right thing contacting your Cancer Nurse Specialist (CNS), but I can understand it can be confusing if besides the pain there are no signs of infection.

    Unfortunately, it is possible to develop long term side effects from the radiotherapy such as radiation- induced neuropathic pain. It is very rare but can happen. You can read more about less common and rare late side effect of radiotherapy to treat head and neck cancers  by clicking here.

    As suggested by your CNS it is a good idea to see your GP about your new symptoms. Your GP will be able to assess the type of pain you are experiencing and hopefully able to offer methods to alleviate those.

    I hope you find this information helpful. Please do get in touch with us if you have more questions. You can call us free of charge on 0808 808 0000 or you can chat to us or email us. We are here every day from 8am to 8pm.

    Best wishes,

     

    Denise

    Macmillan Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

    Ref: DK/KE

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