Breast cancer has affected approximately 2.5 million women in the United States as of Jan. 1, 2006, the most recent statistics available according to the National Cancer Institute. Sometimes, the cancer does not stay in the breast but metastasizes to the spine, where it results in abnormal growths along the spine.
Five percent of cancer patients, most commonly those with breast, prostate and multiple myeloma cancers, have their cancer metastasize to the spine. Sometimes spinal tumors may press on or displace the adjacent spinal cord if they are large, according to the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.
Sixty percent of spinal tumors occur in the vertebrae of the thoracic region, while 20 percent occur in the cervical region and 20 percent in the lumbar region, according to the American Brain Cancer Institute.
Twenty to 25 percent of breast cancer patients may see the cancer metastasize to their central nervous system. Those may occur as brain tumors, spinal tumors or spinal fluid metastases and are usually associated with an abnormal accumulation of fluid, or edema.
Symptoms
Pain is apparent in more than 80 percent of the spinal tumors. The pain may get worse despite treatment and be accompanied by fatigue or weight loss. It may be worse at night and unrelated to physical activity. Pain may run down the legs or the sufferer may lose bowel or bladder control. Muscle weakness and loss of sensation are other signs. Lumps, bumps and moles anywhere on the body may be other clues, according to Back.com.
An Ounce of Prevention
Cancer sometimes can be prevented by not smoking, maintaining a healthy diet low in processed and red meats and high in vegetables and fruits, exercising regularly, avoiding exposure to chemicals and radiation, and limiting sun exposure, but there is little a person can do about a family history of cancers of the breast or ovaries.
Diagnosis
CT scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans with contrast enhancement, X-rays and tests of spinal fluid, blood, urine and stool samples are used to diagnose these spinal cancers, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. Spinal fluid is obtained through a lumbar puncture.
Treatment
The doctor bases recommendations for treatment on the tumor's location and whether or not the cancerous cells have invaded the spinal fluid, according to the American Brain Tumor Association.
The usual treatment is radiation followed by chemotherapy, and sometimes doctors recommend surgery, according to the association, adding that hormone therapy may help for breast and prostate cancer.
Coping with Cancer
The American Cancer Society offers educational classes on various subjects to help people cope with cancer. People can visit http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ESN/content/ESN_3_1X_I_Can_Cope.asp or call (800) 227-2345.
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