Cancer and Stroke

That was surely not the Thanksgiving you were planning. I'm glad you got yourself to emergency and were promptly investigated. Perhaps @trixie1313 and @martijwis may have some experience to share about the connection between cancer, treatments and stroke.

@stparker54, did you tell the emergency doctor about the issue you've been having with low platelets? Medications like anti-platelet drugs or anticoagulents (blood thinners) are often used to decrease the likelihood of a stroke after a transient ischemic attack. (Read more here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/transient-ischemic-attack/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355684) Were you prescribed any medication for the TIA? Have you spoken with your oncologist since this happened?

@stparker54, What a scary experience.

I am not sure type of cancer or when you had chemo, but I remember having stroke risk discussion with my oncologist about taking AIs.

Here is article on breast cancer treatments that have been associated with increased stroke risk:
https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/side_effects/stroke
I would definitely contact your oncologist on Monday about what happen and ask him/her about cancer treatment and increase stroke risk.

What advice, treatment, or preventive measures did the drs. in hospital recommend?

Laurie

@stparker54
I don't know if there is a correlation, but believe me I do not want to have that again! Where was your stroke? Mine was in the thalamus. Funny thing about a week prior I was having trouble with my vision and taste was odd as well as having headaches. How are you doing now? I've found that I need more rest now inbetween chores. The only remainder I have from the stroke is when I am tired my right foot drags a little and I still have some tingling in my right thumb and forefinger at times, but not bad. Also odd is that my thinking seems to have cleared and my balance issues have improved considerably. It will be interesting to hear more from you.

Trixie1313: I'm doing pretty good. I have some neuropathy in left foot and it seems to be bothering me more following the mini-stroke. I feel a slight weakness in left hand. I'm not feeling tired. What I'm worried about most is having another stroke. Doctor put me on low dose aspirin to prevent a recurrence stparker54

Laurie: doctors at the hospital already contacted my oncologist. I hope this doesn't affect chemo treatment going forward. Now that I have to take low dose aspirin, this could affect my platelet count, which has been low during chemo. I have clear cell endometrial cancer stparker54

@stparker54
Did you find out where the stroke happened, i.e. what part of the brain? While this is very frightening, you cannot let it rule out life. If you can be proactive by walking every day, that will help your not only physically but mentally. I use those trekking/hiking sticks as I still have a little balance problem. If you can get to a physical therapist that works with stroke patients, that would be helpful. What I found out was that for two weeks, the PT wanted me to use my opposite affected hand to reach and hold things. He mentioned that they are finding out that the brain can remap so by forcing the affected side to work more, that will help your brain function. He had me walking around with a couple of gardening gloves on my left hand...what an adventure that was! So don't give up...keep moving...keep the circulation going.

Colleen: doctors put me on a low dose aspirin. I told the doctors how aspirin would decrease platelet count. They looked at me and asked: what would you rather have low platelets or a second stroke? No much of a choice. Hospital doctor's contacted my oncologist, but I don't know what he said. I hope this doesn't compromise my chemo.

I had an aneurysm diagnosed just as I started breast cancer treatment. Not related to treatment, just happen to find during CT scan. It was calcified, so treatment was just low dosage aspirin and monitoring. No one mentioned effect on platelets which stayed in normal range during chemo. They were checked before every chemo session.

If you were seen for stroke at Mayo, checked the portal notes. The ER or other drs might of documented the conversation with oncologist in visit notes. Also, may show if they talked to your oncologist or a oncologist on call over holiday weekend.

Good luck
Laurie

After my last Chemo treatment I had a very bad headache I went to my Oncologist and they all were checking my blood pressure and then made a decision to move to urgent care so they could lower my blood pressure which they did not do anything about my blood pressure he had two brain scans done gave me Benadryl and said I had to go to my primary doctor for the blood pressure! What a big run around I finally seen my primary doctor two days later and she told me I had a stroke!!!! So yes chemo can cause strokes!🥲