Spine Cancer

Spine cancer or spinal tumours describe an abnormal growth of cells within or around the spinal cord. Sometimes the tumour can be benign but more often spinal cancers are malignant tumours that expand and weaken the spinal cord.

Common symptoms include the following:

• Excessive pain in the neck region.
• Numbness and weakness of the arms as well as legs.
• Changes in the normal bowel and bladder movements.
• Focal spine pain. This especially happens in the morning.
• Our Assessment Process

There are mainly two types of spinal tumours depending on point of origin of the malignant cells, which include:

Primary tumours: that originate from the spinal structures. There are more rare, and the most prone places to be affected are the spinal canal, the spinal canal membrane, or the nerve roots.

Secondary/metastatic: these spread to the spine from other parts of the body. Spinal tumours in women tend to start from a spread of breast or lung cancer. In men, they typically result from the spread from cancer that began in the prostate or lung.

Unlike certain cancers, like lung cancer where there’s an increased risk linked to smoking, to date there have been no risk factors associated to spinal tumours making it likely to affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or race.

It is essential for patients to undergo early evaluation if spinal cancer is suspected. When diagnosed early, it is easier for our specialist doctors to treat and manage spinal cancer. The first step will be to perform a biopsy to determine the type of tumour and the course it is likely to take, so that we can start patients on the best treatment.

Treatment

Our qualified consultant specialists and doctors are the best in the field when it comes to spinal problems, treating a wide range of conditions every year. Our unrivalled level of expertise and access to world-class medical facilities means not only are you in the best possible hands but you also have access to the best possible treatment, including a range of new and exciting treatments that are helping to improve recovery rates without major surgery. These include stem cell therapies, ozone therapy and, as a last resort after all conservative options have been explored, balloon kyphoplasty and disc replacement surgery.

We offer every patient a caring, holistic and supportive experience at the London Spine Unit. Our specialists will always place you at the centre of our focus to ensure you receive the correct diagnosis and treatment for your condition as quickly as possible. Any treatment plan offered is supported by regular monitoring and review to evaluate whether treatment is working and how the patient is generally responding to it.