Lung cancer and back pain.
Back pain is fairly common in the general population. It’s possible to have lung cancer and unrelated back pain. Most people with back pain don’t have lung cancer.
Not everyone with lung cancer gets back pain, but many do. For some people, back pain turns out to be one of the first symptoms of lung cancer.
Back pain can be due to the pressure of large tumors growing in the lungs. It can also mean that cancer has spread to your spine or ribs. As it grows, a cancerous tumor can cause compression of the spinal cord.
That can lead to neurologic deterioration causing:
• weakness of the arms and legs
• numbness or loss of sensation in the legs and feet
• urinary and bowel incontinence
• interference with the spinal blood supply
Without treatment, back pain caused by cancer will continue to worsen. Back pain may improve if treatment such as surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy can successfully remove or shrink the tumor.
In addition, your doctor can use corticosteroids or prescribe pain relievers such as acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). For more severe pain, opioids such as morphine or oxycodone may be needed.
Visit our page for additional information on Lung Cancer.
If you or a loved one are concerned about Lung Cancer please give Doctor Madisa or Doctor Smith at call at 949-2970 or visit our clinic on Smith Road, George Town.
You can also book an appointment online at: https://thechildrensclinic.ky/#appointment