People who have cancer near the spine have a few options for treatment. Depending on the type of cancer and the stage of the condition, treatment may involve surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. Sometimes patients will need an MRI scan or other diagnostic tests to determine the type of cancer. Regardless of the treatment option, the patient should expect to see a spinal oncologist regularly. If symptoms become more severe, treatment may be urgent. Patients should also discuss their options with their doctors.
To diagnose a cancer near the spine, a doctor will perform a complete medical examination. Additional tests, including radiological imaging, will be performed to determine the exact type of tumor. X-rays of the spine can show bone structures and outline joints. These scans aren’t always reliable for diagnosing tumors but are necessary to rule out other causes of the pain. When X-rays show cancer, they will be negative if they are located near the spinal cord.
Patients with tumors near the spine may experience pain, tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness. This may be because of the tumor’s compression of a spinal cord nerve. These symptoms could also lead to spine fractures and neurologic injuries. In addition to pain, patients may experience other symptoms such as loss of coordination, weakness, or bladder or bowel control. This is a serious diagnosis, and early treatment is important.
Some patients with cancer near the spine may also have another type of tumor, called an occipital lobe. The occipital lobe is responsible for processing light and visual images, as well as motion. A tumor in this area can alter the fields of vision or how we interpret written language. Cancer near the spine can affect both the brain and the spinal cord, which is protected inside the bony spinal column. This extension of the brain contains bundles of nerves that transmit messages from the brain to various parts of the body.
The most common cancer that spreads to the spine is lung cancer, followed by breast and prostate. Multiple myeloma, a form of white blood cell cancer, is another cause of cancer near the spine. People with cancer are at a greater risk for spinal tumors, which are called secondary spinal tumors. Primary spinal tumors, however, are rare and most likely to occur in young children and adults between ages 10 and 64.
A primary spinal tumor may have no symptoms, and the disease may spread to the bones. Some people with a weakened immune system may have a higher risk of developing it. Primary spinal tumors are often caused by exposure to cancer-causing substances. Others may have a family history of spinal tumors and may be hereditary. This indicates a genetic factor, though scientists don’t know what that factor is. These tumors can be difficult to diagnose, and early treatment will be key to successful spinal cancer treatment.
The type of treatment for a spinal tumor will depend on the location and size of the tumor. In some cases, surgery may be the only option if the tumor is low-grade and benign. If it has spread beyond the spinal cord, doctors may opt for radiation therapy or chemotherapy to shrink the tumor or relieve symptoms. The last option, stereotactic radiosurgery, is a minimally invasive method of radiation delivery that targets the tumor.
