What happens when cancer spreads to the spinal cord?

Cancer cells typically reach the spine via the bloodstream, after which they enter the bone marrow and begin to multiply. Tumors within the vertebrae can weaken the bone, eventually causing them to fracture. A fracture can cause severe pain, spinal instability, and seriously affect the patient’s quality of life.

How do you detect spinal metastases?

Diagnosing spinal metastases begins with physical examination to look for signs of spinal cord compression. Scans such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are then often done to visualize the metastases.

How do you know if cancer has spread to your spine?

Numbness or weakness in the legs, trouble urinating or having a bowel movement, or numbness in the belly are all signs that the spinal cord may be compressed. When cancer metastasizes to the spine, it can squeeze or compress the spinal cord.

What are symptoms of spinal Mets?

General symptoms of spinal metastatic disease include pain, sometimes from vertebral compression or collapse, nerve damage, muscle weakness and possible loss of control of the bowels or bladder. Roughly 70 percent of patients experience spinal metastatic disease.

What is the prognosis for spinal bone cancer?

Survival Rate. The mean survival rate of spinal cancer is up to 40% when treatments are instituted. Some forms may have as low as 8% survival rate and others as high as 84% depending on the location, type and prognostic factors of the patient.

What causes lesions in the spine?

Paralysis and spinal cord lesions, in general, can have a variety of underlying causes. Any injury to the spinal cord may result in a lesion. Some of the most common of these causes include: Traumatic injury, such as from impact or a large fall. Cancer. Degeneration from severe arthritis.

What is a lesion on the spine?

At the base level, a spinal lesion is classified as any abnormal change to the spinal tissue or spinal cord. Some common types of spinal lesions include tumors, cancers, fluid sacs or any other types of growths that disrupt normal back function. These growths can develop for a variety of different reasons, including: Acute trauma.