Fatigue can be caused by a brain or spine tumor, medications used to treat side effects, and is the most common side effect of cancer treatment. Fatigue may also involve the following signs and symptoms: Cognitive changes: difficulty speaking or concentrating; short-term memory loss.
Certain cancers such as breast and prostate cancer can change the levels of hormones in your body. This can cause a number of side effects including fatigue. People with advanced cancer are more likely to have fatigue than those with earlier staged cancer.
Extreme fatigue that doesn't get better with rest can be an early sign of cancer. Cancer uses your body's nutrients to grow and advance, so those nutrients are no longer replenishing your body. This “nutrient theft” can make you feel extremely tired.
Spinal tumors or growths of any kind can lead to pain, neurological problems and sometimes paralysis. A spinal tumor can be life-threatening and cause permanent disability. Treatment for a spinal tumor may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or other medications.
Blood tests are not used to diagnose brain or spinal cord tumours. However, they are routinely done to provide a baseline before any planned treatment. They can provide helpful information about your general health, how other organs are functioning, other medical conditions and the possible risks of treatment.
Non-mechanical back pain, especially in the middle or lower back, is the most frequent symptom of both benign and malignant spinal tumors. This back pain is not specifically attributed to injury, stress or physical activity. However, the pain may increase with activity and can be worse at night when lying down.
Some people live active and fulfilling lives with spinal tumors that don't grow or cause symptoms. In some cases, people with metastatic spinal tumors need to continue treatments, including chemotherapy or radiation, to keep the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body.
Primary tumors often progress slowly over weeks to years. Tumors in the spinal cord usually cause symptoms, sometimes over large portions of the body. Tumors outside the spinal cord may grow for a long time before causing nerve damage.
In most cases, there's a reason for the fatigue. It might be allergic rhinitis, anemia, depression, fibromyalgia, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease (COPD), a bacterial or viral infection, or some other health condition.
Many cases of tiredness are due to stress, not enough sleep, poor diet and other lifestyle factors. Try these self-help tips to restore your energy levels. If you feel you're suffering from fatigue, which is an overwhelming tiredness that isn't relieved by rest and sleep, you may have an underlying medical condition.
If the fatigue is associated with chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heart rate, or sense of imminent passing out, these are urgent conditions that warrant immediate medical attention.
Fatigue feels like you have an overwhelming urge to sleep, but you may not feel refreshed after you rest or sleep. Fatigue often occurs along with other symptoms, such as: Depression and lack of desire to do the activities you once enjoyed. Trouble concentrating or focusing.
A Fatigue Blood and Urine Test Panel includes a Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP-14), Complete Blood Count with Differentials, Iron with Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC), Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Sedimentation Rate, Westergren (SED), Urinalysis, Complete with Microscopic Examination.
Spinal tumors can affect people of any age, though they are more common in adults than in children. Fortunately, spinal tumors are uncommon, accounting for only around 15% to 20% of central nervous system (CNS) tumors—that is, tumors of the brain and spinal cord.
The majority of primary spinal column tumors are benign, with malignant tumors comprising only 20%. Overall, spine metastases are the most common malignant spine tumor, and these usually arise from primaries such as lung, breast, and prostate cancers.
Most symptomatic spinal cord tumors require surgical removal which can typically be performed with small incisions on the back or neck and little bony disruption. Depending on the type of tumor, further treatment may be indicated, including radiation or chemotherapy.
Primary spinal tumors are rare but are more likely to occur in adults between the ages of 65 and 74 and in children between the ages of 10 and 16.
MRI Scan. An MRI scan is the most reliable method of diagnosing spinal cord tumors, although additional tests are needed to confirm the type of tumor.
Signs of a spinal tumor
Back pain that often radiates to other areas and worsens at night. Pain at the tumor site. Radiating numbness, tingling, or weakness. Less sensitivity to heat, cold, and pain.
Spinal cancer is graded in the following ways: Grade 1 spinal cancer: The tumor grows slowly and rarely spreads into nearby tissues. It may be possible to completely remove the tumor with surgery. Grade 2 spinal cancer: The tumor grows slowly but may spread into nearby tissue or recur.
Spine Disorders
Thus, surgical resection (removal of the tumor) may often be the preferred treatment for a spinal cord tumor. Spinal cord tumor resection is performed for both adult and pediatric patients who have tumors on the spinal cord.