Spinal Cancer

Explore diagnostic, treatment, and support options for spinal tumors and spinal cord tumors.

If you have a spinal tumor (on the bone of the spine) or a spinal cord tumor (on the spinal cord), you’re not alone. Many types of cancer can spread to the spine, including breast cancer, colon cancer, and lung cancer. About one third of all cancer patients will develop some type of spinal tumor. Nationally, 25,000 to 30,000 cases of spinal tumors and spinal cord tumors each year are due to cancer that has spread from another part of the body.

Our team includes experts in caring for spinal and spinal cord tumors. We’ll provide the care you need to beat your spinal cancer.

Spinal cancer diagnosis

The first step in your care is for us to find out as much as we can about your disease. Our advanced diagnostic options give our doctors the information they need to care for your specific type of spinal or spinal cord tumor.

Spinal cancer treatment

Once we know all we can about your tumor, our team of spinal cancer experts gather in a specialized conference called a tumor board. This tumor board meets to discuss each patient’s case and recommend the best possible course of action.

We provide a range of treatment options for spinal tumors and spinal cord tumors. These options include:

• Minimally invasive surgery -- removing tumors with surgical techniques that require smaller incisions than traditional surgery, which leads to less blood loss and faster recovery for patients
• Radiosurgery -- the use of targeted radiation beams to shrink or destroy tumors
• Chemotherapy -- the use of drugs to shrink or destroy cancer cells

Patients may need one or a combination of these treatment options. You and your doctor will discuss your treatment goals and create a personalized treatment plan.

Learn more about spinal cancer

We’re here to answer all your questions during your spinal cancer care. We’ll make sure you know what to expect every step of the way, such as:

• How we create your treatment plan
• Your role in your spinal cancer care
• How to choose between radiosurgery and minimally invasive spinal surgery
• How to get a second opinion

We’ll match you with a nurse navigator, who will answer your questions and help guide you toward survivorship. Our team will provide as much support as you need during and after your treatment process.