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Advancing Metastatic Spine Cancer Care

A spinal cord tumor forms on the spinal cord or the area around it. The term “metastatic” refers to cancers that started outside of the spinal cord. Also known as a secondary spinal cord tumor, these growths originated somewhere else in the body and spread to the spinal cord (whereas a primary spinal cord tumor originates in or near the spinal cord).

Spinal cord tumor may be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). They can cause pain and discomfort because the tumor may press against the spinal cord or nerves.

Types of spinal cord tumors

Spinal cord tumors affect many different areas and come in many different types, including the following:

  • Leukemia or lymphoma, cancers of the blood
  • Myeloma, cancer of the bone marrow
  • Medulloblastomas, which start in the brain and metastasize to the spine, and are most common in children
  • Gliomas (ependymomas, astrocytomas, or gangliogliomas), which are cancers that form in cells called glial cells
  • Chordomas, which form in the spine and can push against it
  • Schwannomas, which start inside the peripheral nerves
  • Meningiomas, which start in the tissues around the spinal cord (meninges)
  • Metastatic (secondary) tumors, which are cancers that have spread from the lung, breast, prostate, or other organs

Spinal cord tumor treatments can include radiation therapy, surgery, medications to lessen swelling, and clinical trials.

We offer state-of-the-art technology to aid in detection and treatment of spine cancers. Put our expertise to work for your health and wellbeing.

To contact one of New Jersey’s best brain and spine cancer specialists call
844-CANCERNJ or 844-226-2376.

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