Headaches

Hi Shaun,

During radiotherapy, I started getting headaches in the back of my head. Moving my head felt as though my head would fall off, They usually came on at night and went away in an hour or so. I found that neck exercises (particularly left-to-right movements and circling) eased the pain. 
This went away but has recently returned. I now have some stiffness and fibrosis in my neck. So I am, once again, seeing a connection between headaches and the changes in my neck caused by radiotherapy.  Also, don't underestimate the stress that you are currently under.

Hope yours improves.

Steve 

Hi Steve, your right there, alot of thoughts rushing through my head at the moment. Haven't got to the treatment stage yet so guessing cancer is pressing on normal structure of my neck causing this pain.ok when sitting -at the moment! Thanks again shaun 

Hi Shaun, just wondering how you got on?

my partner has tonsil cancer and hasn’t started treatment yet, he is experiencing dull constant headaches and is very tired. I’m just wondering if this is normal or if there’s anything we can do.

Hi Debss. Shaun last posted over three years ago so may not be here on the forum any more. We get all sorts of other symptoms once we are diagnosed. Many are stress others not. When does your husbands treatment start and what is he having? 

Hi,

Thanks for your response. He starts treatment on Wednesday (so in 3 days) he is having Chemo once a week and Radio therapy 5 days a week for 6 weeks.

He seems to have stopped doing his normal life things for the past 2 weeks, I’m worried he is like this and hasn’t even started treatment. 

He has just started getting back out for walks and said he’s glad he did. 

I want to encourage him to try to at least get a walk in for the duration of his treatment even if it’s a slow one round the block, for both mental and physical health (unless of course he physically can’t). Is that unrealistic? I want to be as supportive as possible and know sometimes he won’t want to so need to ensure I’m not pushing him but also encouraging. 

Thanks,  

Debss said:

I want to encourage him to try to at least get a walk in for the duration of his treatment even if it’s a slow one round the block, for both mental and physical health (unless of course he physically can’t). Is that unrealistic?

Round the block might be hard for a couple of weeks at the end and after. I did a turn round the garden. Husband and I used to have a smallholding with a couple of fields a five minute walk up a bridle path from the house. As soon as I could I got out there with our dog but the first time it took twenty minutes. 
At least he will have summer days to sit in the garden in the shade. Fresh air and friends ( carefully chosen) will be good for him. 

Thanks so much that’s really useful and also affirming to what I thought and what the nurse said.