My Back Hurts - Can It Be Cancer?

The majority of adults will suffer from lower back discomfort at some point in their lives. A person's chance of experiencing lower back pain might be increased by multiple factors. These include getting older, being overweight, and working in a job that requires heavy lifting.

It is normal for people who suffer severe back pain to question if the pain is an indication of spine cancer. Searching for answers in Google can make you very frightened about your health and life and even cause a panic attack, so better look for a back pain doctor to discover the causes of your pain.

While most back discomfort is unrelated to cancer or tumors, it is possible and should be investigated. This article outlines when back discomfort may be caused by a spinal tumor, how to receive an accurate diagnosis, and what treatment choices to consider.

Spinal Tumor Types

A spinal tumor is an abnormal cell development in the spinal column. These tumors might be malignant (cancerous) or benign (not cancerous). A malignant tumor is made up of aberrant cells that divide uncontrollably and have the ability to spread through the blood or lymphatic system.

Primary tumors arise from the spinal column. While the majority of initial tumors are benign, some are malignant.

Secondary tumors, also known as metastatic tumors, have moved from another section of the body to the spine. Cancerous tumors spread throughout the body. Approximately 90% of spinal tumors are metastatic. 

Tumors might spread from cancer cells from other regions of the body, such as the breast, kidney, or lung. These cells migrate via the bloodstream and become lodged in the spine, resulting in metastatic spinal cord tumors. The thoracic spine is the most common location for metastatic spinal tumors.

Spinal tumors are further categorized according to whether they are located outside the spinal cord (extradural), within the protective covering of the spinal cord (intradural-extramedullary), or within the spinal cord itself (intramedullary). Extradural, intradural, and extramedullary tumors are referred to as spinal tumors.

The Symptoms of Spinal Tumors

When a malignant spinal tumor causes back discomfort, it usually manifests through the following symptoms:

• Progressively worsening with time;


• The pain does not improve with rest and may worsen at night;


• The sensation flares up as a sharp or shock-like pain in the upper or lower back, which may spread to the legs, chest, or other parts of the body.

Other indications and symptoms that could point to cancer as the cause of back pain include unexpected weight loss, nausea, fever, chills, and other worrying symptoms.

Back Problems Caused by Spinal Cancer

Spinal column tumors can cause back discomfort by:

• Bone expansion and/or weakness;


• Causing the vertebrae to shatter easily;


• Compression of the spinal cord and/or nerve roots;


• Additional factors, such as spinal instability, may be due to spinal tumors that cause back discomfort.

A Cancerous Spinal Tumor's Treatment

Cancer becomes more likely with age. People over the age of 50 who have previously had cancer are at a higher risk of having a malignant spinal tumor. 

The rate of growth of malignant spinal tumors varies depending on the type. A tumor may be small and contained within the spine, or it may have spread from another part of the body via blood or lymph (fluid that circulates throughout the body). Untreated malignant spine tumors are likely to grow and become life-threatening.

Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and/or surgical excision of the tumor are all possible treatments for spinal cancer. When a patient is unlikely to tolerate surgery well or has advanced cancer, palliative care may be administered instead of removing the tumor to minimize discomfort and keep the patient as comfortable as possible.