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Intercrainial pressure or brain hernia questions

Wondering about intercrainial pressure and possible brain hernia and how they show themselves. So I was diagnosed with non Hodgkin's lymphoma 4 years ago it was on the watch and wait in the beginning and I didn't want to so traditional treatment (go ahead with the nay Sayers) but that's what I decided to do. Well fast forward 4 years later I am afraid that I need to start treatment but it might be too late. I am afraid it has went to my brain for the past 2 months I've had intense pressure in my head only when I lay down on the side I'm laying on. If I switch sides then the pressure goes away. Move to the other side pressure comes back like from the inside like there are actually tumors in my head. I know you can't feel tumors buy i swear i do when i'm laying or slmetimes feels lile marbles in other areas. I just feel the pressure. I am afraid this NHL has turned into cns lymphoma. I am now afraid that I am going to have a brain herniation if this is the case. Am I totally off base here is this even possible for NHL to turn into cns lymphoma and if I am feel pressure is that intercrainial pressure or is that something different? Just the NHL diagnosis years ago that I never really addressed has me freaked the heck out I can't even function on my daily life now my anxiety is so bad. The symptom from NHL that I let go are bad enough with pain now I am worried about the possible brain involvement. I just don't know what this pressure is. Thank you for any replies ad before anyone starts yes I know I should have done treatment earlier and I do regret that. Thanks!

2015-02-05 11:19:25

David

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Hi! If a wait and watch policy was adopted then probably you have a follicular or a slow growing B-cell lymphoma. Usually this would not metastasize to brain that early. Also if there was a brain metastasis then this would cause symptoms like (any one a combination of them) numbness fits loss of function of a limb headache nausea vomiting hearing problem vision problems etc. So if you do not have these then symptom wise a brain metastasis is less likely. Pressure on head along may or may not be related to metastasis. However nothing can be said for sure unless a PET scan or MRI is done along with blood tests. Raised intracranial pressure also causes symptoms like numbness fits loss of function of a limb headache nausea vomiting hearing problem vision problems etc. This may be difficult to diagnose on symptoms alone just like metastasis. So you would need test like eye examination to look for papilledema or do a spinal tap to look for raised intracranial pressure. Brain herniation also produces similar symptoms. This can be diagnosed by a brain MRI. Regarding your feeling of a ball or lump in the head: this may just be a feeling of heaviness or due to anxiety or could be a stress related symptom. It is not really possible to feel a lump inside the skull. Head pressure can also be a symptom of anxiety and stress. It is important to consult an oncologist today and get a complete assessment. If it was a slow growing lymphoma then probably it would not have spread much. However it may be possible that by now the cancer has spread enough to need anti-cancer drugs. Hope you get well soon! Good Luck and take care!

2015-02-05 11:20:00

Amy