they can cause serious damage. These tumors can weaken bones and compress nerves and the spinal cord, resulting in spine fractures and neurologic injuries. The first symptom of cancer near the spine is pain, which is usually accompanied by other symptoms. The type of pain you feel may indicate the nature of the tumor.
Treatment options for a cancer near the spine are individualized and may be different for children versus adults. Your doctor will discuss the various treatments available to you and the possible side effects of these treatments with you, as well as the risks and benefits of each. Your doctor will likely perform regular checkups to determine the progression and side effects of treatment, as well as your overall health. It is important to keep in mind that some tumors may respond well to radiation therapy, while others may not.
A secondary spinal tumor, or a tumor that has spread from another part of the body, is the result of cancer that has spread. A primary tumor in the abdomen may break off and enter the lymphatic and bloodstream, causing a new growth in the spinal cord. Because cancer cells can be carried by fluids in the body, cancer cells can easily spread from one part of the body to another. In fact, cancer cells from the abdominal cavity can spread to the back or other nearby parts. Because the spinal cord has such a high blood supply and is near venous and lymphatic drainage systems, it can be difficult to determine which of these types of tumors is present and whether it is malignant or benign.
The types of cancer that may arise near the spine include meningiomas, ependymomas, and spinal nerve tumours. However, spine metastases are the cancers that have spread to the spinal column. The difference between these types of cancers is that the latter spreads through the lymphatic system and bloodstream. The most common type of cancer near the spine is called a metastatic tumor. In the latter case, the cancer has spread from a primary tumor to distant sites.
Other types of cancer near the spine can occur in the spine, including ependymoma. These tumors develop from cells that line the spinal cord and brain. Glioblastoma is another type of cancer, but it originates from the blood vessels that connect the central nervous system and the meninges. Meningioma can become large and life-threatening. However, it is rare for a tumor to affect the central nervous system.
The tumors that originate in the spinal cord are called intradural-extramedullary. This type of cancer forms in the thin covering of the spinal cord, outside of the actual spinal cord. This type of tumor has a 40% occurrence rate. It typically starts as a benign tumor and gradually becomes malignant. A common treatment for this type of cancer is surgery. However, the tumor may develop after several years without causing any symptoms.
