Some cancers that cause back pain include spinal tumors, lung cancer, breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, and blood cancers. Undiagnosed skin cancer can also spread to the spine, causing back pain.
Radicular pain is nerve pain, which occurs when the cancer is pushing on a nerve in the spine. It can feel like an electric shock going down a limb or around the chest. Sciatica is the most well-known type. Radicular pain can be relieved by treating the tumor to stop it from compressing the nerve causing the pain.
Tummy or back pain
Pain is more common in cancers of the body and tail of the pancreas. People describe it as a dull pain that feels like it is boring into you. It can begin in the tummy area and spread around to the back. The pain is worse when you lie down and is better if you sit forward.
If you currently have cancer or have had cancer in the past, back pain may indicate a recurrence or metastasis, where the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Back pain that worsens over several months, unexplained weight loss, and pain at night or at rest may also indicate cancer.
Pain at the site of the tumor due to tumor growth. Back pain, often radiating to other parts of your body. Back pain that's worse at night. Loss of sensation or muscle weakness, especially in your arms or legs.
If these treatments offer little to no pain relief, they will order blood tests and imaging tests such as X-rays, bone scans, or magnetic resonance imaging. These tests can let you and your doctor know if your back pain is due to cancer.
Pancreatic tumors most commonly form at the head of the pancreas, blocking the bile ducts. As a result, the first visible symptoms usually indicate jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, and dark urine.
Pain in the lower back can be a symptom of colon cancer as colon cancer causes lower back pain. The pain associated with colon cancer happens in the cancer site and radiates to the lower back.
Contact your health care provider for back pain that: Lasts longer than a few weeks. Is severe and doesn't improve with rest. Spreads down one or both legs, especially if the pain goes below the knee.
Sharp pain rather than a dull ache: This could indicate a torn muscle or ligament, or a problem with an internal organ in the back or side. 2. Radiating pain: This pain "moves" or shoots to the glutes or legs, which could indicate a nerve compression condition. Radiating pain could be a sign of nerve damage.
Pain from liver cancer can occur in the upper right abdomen, the right shoulder, or the back. The pain may vary depending on the cause. Soft tissue pain may feel pulsating, whereas nerve pain can be sharp or stabbing. In cases where tumors metastasize to bone, a person may experience deep, dull pain.
Pancreatic cancer can cause a dull pain in your upper tummy (abdomen), which may spread to your back. To begin with, the pain may come and go, but as the tumour becomes larger and more advanced, the pain may be more constant and last longer. The pain is often worse when you lie down or after you've eaten.
Typically, it takes 10-20 years for pancreatic cancer to develop in a patient. Even in an animal model, the process is several months long. This pancreatic tumor model condenses cancer development to just two weeks. “We can observe what happens over a long period of time.
Back pain red flags – Night Pain
Back pain that worsens at night or while you're sleeping might indicate something more severe like an infection or cancer. This is especially true if you also have other symptoms in addition to your back discomfort when you sleep or relax.
Back pain is a common early symptom of spinal tumors. Pain may also spread beyond your back to your hips, legs, feet or arms and may worsen over time — even with treatment. Spinal tumors progress at different rates depending on the type of tumor.
Tumour marker blood tests
Tumour markers are substances that might be raised if there is a cancer. They're usually proteins. They can be found in the blood, urine or body tissues. You might also hear them called biomarkers or molecular markers.
Look carefully at your fingernails, palms, forearms (including the undersides), and upper arms. Examine the back, front and sides of your legs. Also look around your genital area and between your buttocks. Sit and closely examine your feet, including toenails, soles and the spaces between your toes.