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When a headache might be a sign of something more serious

On Behalf of | Feb 12, 2016 | Failure To Diagnose

In many cases, medical symptoms that suddenly show up turn out to be fine after all and either go away on their own or are properly treated. Unfortunately, at Donovan & O’Connor, LLP, we are aware that other symptoms signal a serious condition, and that it is possible for doctors to misdiagnose some illnesses. A missed or delayed diagnosis of cancer can be devastating for Massachusetts residents.

What if one of your symptoms is a headache that occurs frequently? This was the case for a teenager who began to have headaches after a wrestling match, according to CNN. His mother was worried from the beginning and took him to his doctor a couple of times. Originally, the doctor diagnosed him with dehydration, and then later with a stomach bug, after the boy began having nausea. When he started to become dizzy, his parents took him to the ER, where brain scans revealed a life-threatening tumor. Fortunately, surgeons were able to remove the entire tumor and he received cancer treatment.

Chronic headaches usually have a less serious cause, but a brain tumor may be something to worry about in some cases, especially if you develop other symptoms. As stated above, nausea and dizziness may be symptoms of a brain tumor. If the headaches you have are new or unusual, or if they are worse in the morning and get better during the day, these may be concerning signs. Usually, normal headaches start out mild and get worse as the day progresses. A headache signaling a brain tumor may also be accompanied with weakness in the limbs, problems with peripheral vision and difficulty speaking.

Brain tumors need to be immediately addressed, which is problematic if they are initially misdiagnosed. To learn more about the consequences of failing to diagnose cancer, visit our page.

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