Why Are There Headaches During Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is a cancer-fighting technique that uses drugs to damage or kill malignant cancer cells. Headaches are a potential side effect of chemotherapy treatments, and may occur for a number of different reasons.

The Facts

• The American Cancer Society (ACS) notes that chemotherapy damages healthy cells and body systems in addition to addressing cancer. This type of damage can trigger treatment side effects that include headaches.

Central Nervous System Damage

• Certain chemotherapy agents damage cells inside the brain and spinal cord or in the central nervous system, reports the ACS. This type of damage can trigger headaches in addition to other symptoms.

Kidney Damage

• The ACS also notes that the breakdown of chemotherapy agents can lead to kidney damage and accompanying headaches. Drugs known to produce these effects include cisplatin, ifosfamide and cyclophosphamide.

Spinal Fluid

• Chemocare.com reports that headaches can also occur when chemotherapy agents are introduced directly into the spinal fluid.

Etoposide

• The Oncology Channel notes that the chemotherapy drug etoposide (VePesid, VP-16) is known to produce headache symptoms.