Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 2/12/2011

Question
I am concerned about a headache that has lasted for about 2 weeks now. It is not painful, but rather a dull ache/discomfort that worsens when I exert myself (i.e. bending down, sudden movements and exercise). I cannot pinpoint exactly where it is as it seems to “shift” around.  
Paracetamol seems to ease the ache a bit, but this short-lived and it returns after a couple of hours. My neck muscles are very tense and when I massage the area, it hurts. I am generally quite an anxious person and I do suffer from depression.
Although I suffer from hypertension and am on medication, my blood pressure has been well within the normal range so the headache cannot be attributed to this. In addition, I do have familial cholesterol which I am on medication for and as a precaution, I am being monitored for insulin resistance.
I do follow a healthy diet and I drink a lot of water.  I have has a history of cancer (when I was 5  years old I had non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma) but have been tested every year since and it has not returned – I am 28 now.
I have looked up symptoms on the internet and am concerned that this dull pain in my head could be cancer/tumour related.

Thank you

Answer
It may very well have to do with your tense neck muscles. That is also much more probable than a brain tumour. But of course I can not guarantee that it is not a brain tumour. So let your doctor check you!



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