Tim, you're not alone - that's the same symptom I get.
And I, too, didn't find any reliable cure, just had to wait
for it to pass.

Played hell with my ability to drive...
Thank God we don't get the headaches!

I have had visual migraines since the age of around 11.   They start with a
visual aura similar to what Tim described, although am not sure, off-hand, if
the jagged lines that I visualize are in color or black-and-whie.  Afterwards,
I have difficulty concentrating and usually don't get a headache.
Mine are triggered primarily by certain food additives such as MSG (a given
trigger for me) and also sometimes nitrates.  Another trigger is 'natural'
flavoring such as what is used in French vanilla creamers for coffee.
Flavoroed drinks also bring them on.  My younest daughter has a hx of migraines
which began on the night of her 9th birthday at a time when she was
experiencing earlier than ususal signs of pubertal development.   In her case,
she gets headaches.  We figured that the triggers for that night were something
in the pizza she ordered (pepperoni--mini pizza) or in tsoemthing else she'd
eaten.  My dad also got headaches.  He passed away before the info. came out
re. migraines and use of MSG.  He was reluctant to go out for Chinese food.  He
said he liked it bu that it made him 'sick.'  We told him it was all in his
head--figuratively.   We had no idea that this was reality-based for others,
too...

Tim wrote:

Yup.  That's it!  I describe it as a tiny piece of scrunched saran wrap
wiggling about.  It starts small in the center and expands to fill my visual
frame, then departs.

Very disconcerting at first (I was afriad that I had a brain tumor, of
course...)

...lisa

. . .

Hi, Darla,

Welcome to a great group that no one wants to join!

I'm sorry you had to discover so abruptly that "Noni" is "fightin'
words" around here.  I'm very glad it worked for you for migraines, but
most of us are very, very tired of hearing it touted as a cancer cure
(with no scientific evidence to support it) by people who hope to profit
. . . and who sometimes disguise their profit motives by pretending to
be happy consumers.

Maybe we can all just start over?

I can't help much with your specific problem, as I've been fortunate
enough not to have migraines.  I can't recall any major headache issues
as a side effect of Adriamycin/Cytoxan (AC) chemo (except insofar as I
sometimes get mild headaches when fatigued or tense).  I did have some
headaches with Taxol, if I recall, but nothing of extreme intensity.

So, I don't know whether chemo would trigger migraines, but, for what
it's worth, I don't remember anyone ever mentioning that in my local
support group meetings, where side effects are discussed quite extensively.

You may find that the other side effects of chemo are less severe than
popular press reports (or reports by friends who went through it several
years ago) might suggest.  Most experience some fatigue, mild nausea is
common, but many now avoid major nausea/vomiting or other extreme
symptoms.

I don't mean to imply that it's a walk in the park -- I always say it
was the worst hobby I ever had! -- but it may not be as difficult as you
anticipate.

I was sicker than most are nowadays on AC, and it was about like having
a 2-3 days' stomach flu on a regularly scheduled basis.  Responses to
the chemo drugs, and the drugs to prevent side effects, are very
individualized.  I think someone here said they ate a cheeseburger after
chemo, went home & felt fine (!).

If you do have problems with side effects, be sure to let your doctors
and chemo nurses know, and ask what they can do about it. Plan to be
assertive to get the best results.  My AC treatments got easier each
time with adjustments in administration and side-effect meds.  The last
was very much easier than the first.

Good luck with it, and please post if you have other questions.  Honest,
we can be pretty nice people under most circumstances -- hope you'll be
willing to give us another chance.

Ann T.
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Darla, thank you for understanding.  No need to apologize.  I am sorry for
jumping to that conclusion.  I've just seen it happen too many times.

I am still sorry to hear about your Stage II breast cancer.  I can't imagine
what you're going through right now.  I wish you the best in finding
alternative treatments.  I hope others here can assist you.  I'm new to BC.
My mom (49) was diagnosed recently, and it's come as quite a shock.  There's
no history of BC in our family.

Take care,
Jasmine