Been having some issue with pressure behind my right eye for some time, comes and goes, don't think I have ever mentioned it before here, but did to my VA doctor recently. And he's deeply concerned.
Laying down for a nap one afternoon, had my eyes closed lightly, and was rubbing my eyes. Discovered a small but very hard lump. With my eyes open in their normal position, you wouldn't be able to see or feel the lump. Hard as a rock, doesn't hurt per say, but it seems to be attached to the eye socket bone itself, and not the actual eye. Guessing at a size, would say about the diameter of 4 metal BB's, or perhaps a very small green pea.
In conjunction with the lump, and the pressure, about 3 weeks ago, I had a recurring issue that hasn't surfaced in over 15 years. When I get up (in particular) or move my head fast, I am experiencing olfactory hallucinations. This happened back in 2000 after completing the 70 gys. of radiation to my neck and throat. I know the smells are not real, back in 2000, I went crazy trying to figure out why I was smelling a putrid acidy chemical smell, that no one else could smell. I drove my staff mad at the time trying to track down the smell.
At the time, the only 3 medical reasons were either a rare side effect of a particular mental illness - quickly ruled out, or a rare symptom of a rare epilepsy - which was ruled out, because it would have also made my sense of smell dull out. I have an unusually high level of smell, almost to the point of being ridiculous, and the third reason - was a rare symptom of certain brain or eye tumors, benign or cancerous.
After about a year, without a dx, the smells disappeared, and never came back until this new bout began.
Last year, I had two complete MRI's of the brain with and without contrast, and nothing was found. However, I have since learned, that CAT scans are more accurate for this use than are MRI's, as MRI's will often miss them.
I am still scheduled for new CAT scans to be done by the VA in less than 2 weeks, but these are for my hips, lower spine, and that growing lump in my left cheek. I have contacted my VA nurse about these new developments, and hoping they will expand the scope of the scans to include my entire skull, and hopefully brain.
Was reading up on some of the types of tumors associated with this, and what is interesting, is that secondary cancers from neck/throat radiation is more common than first suspected. In fact, it was stated that any more than 45 gys. to one area is considered the max. safe load. I had 70 gys. of semi-guided radiation in 2000.
That radiation already left me with perm. mouth dryness, and as we know now, was the sole suspect for rotting out all the teeth in my head and caused the bone damage to my jaws. This is what was addressed by the VA prior to the dental surgery and all the hyperbaric treatments I undertook late last year.
Apparently, if it is a tumor, even if benign, it can still be dangerous because of the location, and if it were found to be cancerous, my treatment choice(s) would be very limited, due to the fact that I can no longer tolerate any future radiation treatments.
Will keep all concerned posted. I am still waiting for other answers with the lump in the cheek, and the never ending weight issue. I keep hovering in the low 130's. Up a pound or two, then quickly losing it. No longer is the weight plummeting, because I really don't have any excess weight to lose at this point. What is interesting, I have tried pumping myself up with calories by indulging in severe sugar binges (especially over the holidays). I am still like a junkie when it comes to sugar. However, on the days that I have sugar binged (talking about taking in 2,500 to 4,000 calories in pure junk some days), I will actually lose as much as 2-3 pounds in a 24 hour period. Makes no sense whatsoever. Unless somehow, and I am just guessing, all that sugar input is flaring up my metabolism into some kind of turbo high speed weight burn. Who knows.
All I know, is I don't need another new cancer or two to deal with. Wheels of progress with all these doctors is still at a snail's pace, which is what frustrates me the most.