Cancer of the spine can affect the nerves of the spinal cord or the spine bones, called vertebrae.

The spinal cord is a long bundle of nerves carrying signals to and from the brain and body. The spinal column protects the nerves, consisting of small bones stacked into a tube-like shape.

Most cancer tumours on the spine begin elsewhere and spread to the spine, most often starting as lung, breast, or prostate cancer. This is secondary or metastatic spine cancer, which we treat differently.

Primary cancers of the spine, arising from the bones, nerves or other spinal tissue, make up less than 10% of all spine cancers.

Primary spine cancer can affect you at any age, but it’s a rare cancer. The average age at diagnosis is 45, depending on the type of cancer. 

Spine cancer symptoms can involve the spine itself, or cause symptoms in other parts of the body. Symptoms usually affect both sides of the body.

These symptoms can include:

• Back or neck pain
• Weak or numb arms and legs
• Clumsiness or balance problems
• Aches or tingles in the arms, legs, or buttocks
• Losing control of the bowel or bladder (in lower spine cancer)
• A mass or lump on the spine

Spine-related symptoms can also be caused by benign (non-cancerous) tumours and other conditions. 

If you notice any symptoms that could be related to spine cancer, it’s important to see a doctor straight away. It might not be cancer, but it’s always better to get checked so any treatment can start without delay.

You can speak to your GP, or book an appointment with us to see a specialist quickly. They will assess your symptoms and promptly provide the tests you may need. 

The type of spine cancer depends on the cells it affects and where it’s growing, usually diagnosed with an MRI and a biopsy.

A spinal tumour can grow anywhere along the spine, though most start in the neck (cervical vertebrae).

We classify the cancer depending on the cells it affects. Types of spine cancer include:

• Multiple myeloma – a blood cancer that can affect bones in the spine, which is the most common primary spine cancer
• Chondrosarcoma – a rare cancer growing in the cartilage around the bones, making up 1 in 10 primary spinal cancers
• Osteosarcoma – a rare cancer growing in the spinal bones, most commonly diagnosed in men in their 40s
• Chordoma – a rare slow-growing cancer of the spinal cord
  
• Lymphoma – a cancer affecting immune cells called lymphocytes, which can develop in the spine
• Ewing sarcoma – a rare bone cancer that mainly affects children and young adults
  
• Metastatic cancer – most commonly lung, breast, or prostate cancer spreading to the spine
  

At GenesisCare we treat all types of adult spine cancer and cancers of the central nervous system.

Cancer in the spine is usually metastatic, meaning it has spread from elsewhere in the body. Some of these cancers have common causes, such as smoking in the case of lung cancer.

Researchers are currently exploring the causes of primary spine cancer. Most primary spine cancers don’t have a clear cause. Very rarely, spine cancer may be caused by a faulty gene.

At GenesisCare, we diagnose and treat a wide range of cancers, including spine cancer, and we understand that this can be a very worrying time. Our diagnostic services are world-class, and our commitment is to give you the answers you need, as quickly as possible.

Your doctor may order several tests and scans to investigate possible spine cancer. A diagnosis is usually made with an MRI, which is an imaging scan used to visualise tumours.

You may also have a core needle biopsy to diagnose the type of spine cancer by looking at the cells under a microscope. Sometimes the biopsy is taken during surgery to treat spine cancer.

The stage of your cancer can help your doctor decide the right treatment for you.

Spine cancer staging depends on the type. Primary spine cancers of the bone (vertebrae) usually follow the Enneking staging system:

• Stage 1 – low-grade cancer that has not spread beyond the bone
• Stage 2 – high-grade cancer that has not spread beyond the bone
• Stage 3 – the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body (metastatic)

Staging for spine cancer can be complex. Your consultant is always the best person to explain the stage of your cancer and what this might mean for your outlook and treatment.

The treatment depends on:

• The type, size and spread of cancer
• Whether it’s compressing nerves
• Any damage to the spine
• Your overall health and treatment wishes

At GenesisCare, it’s our commitment to offer world-class care to every patient with cancer. Skip ahead to discover our treatment approach.

The main treatments are:

• Surgery – removing all of the tumour, or part of it (debulking surgery)
• Radiotherapy – high-energy radiation beams directed at the tumour
  
• Chemotherapy – anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs that destroy cancer cells
  
• Steroids – to help reduce any swelling putting pressure on the spinal cord
  

Although the various types of spine cancer have things in common, the risk factors differ. Not all spine cancers have risk factors.

Risk factors for chondrosarcoma include:

• Older age, though it can affect you at any age
• Having non-cancerous bone tumours

Risk factors for osteosarcoma include:

• Being aged 10-30 (related to growth spurts)
• Being older than 60 (related to long-standing bone disease)
• Having Paget’s disease of the bone
• Previous radiotherapy to the bone 

Researchers haven’t yet identified lifestyle factors with a strong link to primary spine cancer. This means there are no clear ways to prevent spine cancer at this time.

You can lower your risk of secondary spine cancer by avoiding risk factors for other cancers that commonly spread to the spine. For example:

• Avoiding smoking – 4 in 5 cases of lung cancer are linked to smoking
  
• Exercise – regular activity can help you maintain a healthy weight, lowering your risk of breast and advanced prostate cancer

We are the UK’s leading independent provider of private cancer care. By choosing us, you can be reassured that your treatment is managed by a team of neuro-oncology specialists working together with you to design the best plan for your spine cancer.

Our approach to world-class care for spine cancer includes: 

• A personalised plan built around you
• Treatment starting within days if needed
• 14 outpatient cancer centres across the UK
• State-of-the-art facilities specialising in advanced radiotherapy
• Compassionate chemotherapy nurses available 24/7 by telephone 
• Integrative cancer care including wellbeing therapies and exercise medicine
• Recognised by all leading private medical insurers with self-pay options available

We are proud that so many patients rate our care as excellent as we help them through their cancer journey. Hear the unique experiences of people who have had their cancer diagnosis or treatment at GenesisCare in our patient stories section.

Our consultants include expert neurosurgeons and spinal surgeons who work in local and nationally renowned hospitals. They collaborate with other cancer specialists to tailor a treatment plan for you. 

Despite its name, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) isn’t surgery – it doesn’t involve any incisions and is virtually painless. It’s an advanced radiotherapy technique that precisely delivers multiple beams of radiation to a tumour in one single treatment session. 

Learn more about our specialist neuro-oncology services. 

We are the leading private provider of radiotherapy in the UK, offering world-class expertise and state-of-the-art facilities that specialise in advanced radiotherapy techniques.

We offer stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) for selected secondary cancers that have spread to the bone. This is a high dose, very accurate type of radiotherapy, similar to SRS, delivered in a small number of treatments. We have recently opened a rapid access SABR pathway for treating painful spine metastases within seven days.

We also offer palliative VMAT radiotherapy for those living with advanced or metastatic spine cancer to improve pain and increase mobility. We understand that fast access to palliative care is paramount and can usually provide this treatment within 48 hours of a planning imaging scan.  

Our compassionate nursing teams are available 24/7 on a dedicated on-call telephone service and can answer any queries during your treatment. They’ll be able to provide advice about side effects or symptoms and arrange any care you need throughout.

Our centres have all received the Macmillan Quality Environment Mark to reflect the quality of care we provide for people living with cancer.

Every patient is supported through their journey with consultant-led integrative cancer care, which combines medical treatment with life-changing approaches including exercise medicine, wellbeing therapies and psychological support.

You’ll have optional access to a wellbeing expert to guide you through holistic therapies of your choice, such as counselling, acupuncture, massage and reflexology, through our unique partnership with the Penny Brohn UK charity.

Exercise medicine includes a 12-week personalised programme provided by a specialist physiotherapist, available at selected centres, with techniques shown to improve outcomes for cancer patients and reduce the impact of spine cancer by enhancing quality of life, helping with pain and mobility, and improving strength.