Spine cancer symptoms?

Question

I have had pain, up and down my back for 3 years now. The pain is gradually getting worse, and sometimes I get numbness in my little toe. I have seen four Doctors, including an A&E Doctor.

They have all told me, that it is not spine cancer, but I have never been for tests to see if a Tumor is present. All I they have had done, is blood tests, and a chest X-ray. I keep going back, but they keep saying it's either muscle, or nerve problems. I'm worried that I'm slowly dying, and no one is helping me. I mean how the h**l can a Doctor tell if someome has spine cancer, without an MRI scan. Do they think they have magic powers or something.

One Doctor said she could tell if I had cancer of the spine, becasue when she felt my back, I would be in pain when she compressed the my spine, if a tumour is there.

Answer 1

It is not prudent to give any views about your condition without a detailed history taking. Even a slow growing benign tumor would have caused more symptoms by now.

From your history it is very strongly unlikely that you have a spinal cancer. Even a benign spinal tumor is unlikely.

Spinal cancers are commonly due to metastases of cancers elsewhere in the body . And at a stage when a cancer is suspected the patient is usually in a very bad state of health.

But from your symptoms a spinal tumor cannot be completely ruled out clinically. X- rays would have given some indication by now.

In the modern days where medicine is so advanced it is best to get all the necessary investigations done.

In addition see the following web sites. But do not go to several websites as you will get confused.

I selected two that suit you.

I am a medical doctor.