Spinal cord tumor
A tumor in or around the spinal cord. It is not a brain tumor.
What a spinal cord tumor is
The spinal cord is the thick bundle of nerves running down your back. It carries messages between your brain and the rest of your body.
A tumor can grow inside the cord, or in the coverings around it, or in the bone of the spine pressing in.
This is not a brain tumor. We list it here because the same specialists often treat both, and because research about it turns up alongside brain tumor research.
What it does
Symptoms follow the nerves rather than the head: back or neck pain, weakness, numbness or tingling, or changes in the bladder and bowel.
Where along the spine the tumor sits decides which parts of the body are affected, because each level of the cord serves different areas.
New weakness or new bladder trouble is a reason to be seen quickly, not to wait for the next appointment.
What to ask your team
- Where along my spine is it, and is it inside the cord?
- Is it pressing on the cord now?
- What symptoms mean I should call you straight away?
This is not medical advice. It explains research in plain words. Your care team knows your case. Talk with them before you make any decision about your treatment.