spine cancer

[mattymatt123]

can anyone tell me if spine cancer is terminal please?

[Whickerman]

I'm not an expert - you really need to speak to a doctor on this - but it seems from cursory investigation that there are 5 types of benign tumours of the spine, ie they can cause problems by sitting on nerves etc but probably aren't life threatening, and 7 types of malignant tumours, which if untreated are life threatening. Of the 7, the 'worst' type is Ewing�s Sarcoma, with a 5 year survival rate of 20%. The others vary upwards from that figure. In addition, the following typoes of cancer can spread to the spine:
Lung cancer,Breast cancer, Prostate cancer, Thyroid cancer, Kidney cancer.

As with all cancers, early identification and treatment is key to survival, but it seems there are no untreatable types if caught early enough.

Good luck - but see a doctor or call NHS Direct or VHI Direct (if in Ireland)

[Taran]

Hi Matty any idea on what type of cancer it is ?

[gelda]

I had spinal cancer just over a year ago,it started with back pain which lasted about a year but it came to the point where the pain became unbearable and the feeling went out of my legs, within 2 days I was paralysed from the waist down, I was rushed to hospital and after scans they found I had 5 tumours in my spine, the treatment was radiotherapy which worked very well and within 7 months I was able to walk again ,unfortunately I've got breast and lung cancer as well which is terminal but I would say if it's only in the spine you've got a good chance, people say the side effects of radiotherapy are pretty bad but I had none apart from a few tiny burns on my back which was nothing. HTH. Gelda

[mattymatt123]

Thankyou all for your answers, its on the lungs also , its not me its my father. the lung is the primery and the spine the secondary we have since found out.