is the cancer back?

My boyfriend has been having strange ear pain. It's not just the inside of his ear but all around his ear including the side of his head. He has trouble even touching it. He went to the local clinic in town and they told him he basically was crazy and there was nothing wrong with him. He has also had occasions that he gets a sharp pain in the back of his lower head and upper neck and after his whole body goes numb and he has a wave of nausea. He also has a history of cancer. When he was about 2 years old when he had a brain tumor in the lower back of his head. the tumor was the size of the doctors fist when it was removed.  It was removed along with one of his vertebra and he's had no signs since until now. He doesn't feel like this is any reason to be concerned. Are these signs that the cancer could be back?