Low blood pressure events

Hi. I’ve not had a problem but it’s something he must mention. 
If it is the cancer once he is under treatment it should improve. 
RT can cause a drop in BP too but that comes later on

I doubt very much his treatment would be delayed 

Hi mention to his team  I doubt treat woukd he delayed. I have raised b o but as treatment progressed it dropped way below normal. I used to be careful when getting up out of bed if iff sofa. It tightened itself after a few months. It’s best to tell his team any changes. 
hazel 

Thanks Hazel x I will tell them about our concerns

Thanks Beesuit, I will ask them about it ince we go for treatment x

Hi Chicadee16 I did have two  events, the first was a week into my treatment, I fainted shortly after getting up, I had never fainted before in my life., the second time was about two weeks later, I had just got out of the shower, one minute I was drying myself the next I was laying on the bathroom floor with my wife trying to help me up. I told my team on both occasions, they noted it, It never stopped my treatment. He really must tell his team. All the best to you both.

Regards Ray.

Hi Chicadee16, please mention it to your oncology doctor. My husband’s cancer is base of tongue and oropharyngeal cancer. He gets frequent blood pressure and pain issues from where his cancer is located. It is very close to the Vegas nerve and carotid artery, both of which can cause pain and they also regulate blood pressure. So it may be connected to the location of his tumour. My husband is currently on immunotherapy. Yesterday his pain was such that he passed out, and his BP plummeted. He’s had a few of these episodes this week and yesterday ended up in A&E and being admitted to hospital. His pain has prevented him from sleeping for over 12 months, just snatching 2 hours here and there. A CT scan in A&E showed swelling around the vegas nerve. However, they can’t tell if it is cancer progression, or inflammation from the immunotherapy (called pseudo progression). They have not suggested they will stop treatment, quite the opposite, they want to do 3 or 4 more treatments on top of the 3 he has already had. Instead, they are increasing pain medication and telling him that it will be a rocky road but he will have to hunker down and and bear it, and they will try to get on top of pain. They have also told him he will likely still get BP issues but he needs to move more slowly, and take his time.  If they do stop treatment for any reason, I understand it will only be temporary whilst they sort out any problems and then continue. I know with RT they will only stop if there is absolutely no alternative as it is more effective if it is delivered daily without a break. 

Hello Old Biker   Did they ever tell you why your BP dropped? Was it the treatment?

thanks for replying x

Hello Snow White

your reply was very helpful, thank you. They did mention the vagus nerve in a&e when he had an episode but I will have to ask our oncologist if the tumour is likely to be pushing onto that or the carotid.  
To be clear, does your husband get LOW blood pressure issues as my husband does?

The poor man sounds like he's really suffering.  I feel for you both.  Its not a nice place to have it apparently, with so many structures in the head and face.  Does he have the same choking issues when eating? My husbands face pain starts up as soon as he eats or drinks anything other other than water.  He has a feeding tube fitted but hope we wont need to use it for food.

i also wonder how they decide one patient needs immunotherapy and another chemo/radio?

My husband cant take opioids as he has panicky hallucinations and also this BP drop, so I hope his pain doesn't get too bad as the only other thing they advise is paracetamol!!

I wish you and your husband every success (and quick!) in his treatment and cure.

hugs x

They didn't really say, as far as I can remember. I didn't have my last chemo because my BP was too low, but they didn't stop the RT. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

Ray. 

Hi Chickadee16

yes, my husband frequently gets low blood pressure. He gets it when going from lying or sitting to standing, but also it happens if he moves his neck too much, which brings on pain followed by low bp. Yesterday it was brought on by travelling in the car as a passenger to hospital for an outpatient appointment. We think the bumpy road caused it! Thankfully it’s not brought on by eating or drinking, although he has swelling on the left side of his face and tongue, so can’t eat, and lives wholly on Fortisip drinks. He was never offered a feeding tube or rig. There’s a good chance that the opioids are lowering his bp too! He has fentanyl and Oromorph, plus Pregabalin and paracetamol, and he hates taking them all! 

To clarify, my husband had 5 chemo and 30 radiotherapy but unfortunately this treatment didn’t work. His base of tongue cancer is HPV positive, but when it spread to his neck it transitioned to HPV negative. He has been advised without further treatment he has up to 12 months to live, but immunotherapy was offered. So far he’s had three infusions, but we’ve been told that sometimes the treatment causes inflammation and swelling which he has, and which is irritating the vegas nerve. He is currently in hospital while they try to improve his pain relief.