The appearance of any new health symptom that lasts more than a few days may cause concern, and back pain is no exception. If you feel pain after lifting heavy boxes, for example, the cause may be obvious, such as muscle strain. But if the pain appears without injury or known cause, and continues for a period of time; It's natural to start thinking about more serious possibilities, and you may wonder: "Could my back pain be caused by cancer?"
“Most likely, it has nothing to do with cancer,” says Dr. Alan Alper-Sag, co-founder of the Medical Committee on Adult Cancer Pain and Bone Metastases at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He adds that back pain caused by cancer is extremely rare, and the vast majority of back pain cases are related to problems in the musculoskeletal system, according to the Everyday Health website.
In many cases, back pain results from common causes, such as muscle strain, ligament tear, arthritis, or herniated disc. These conditions often improve with rest, use of over-the-counter medications, stretching exercises, and physical therapy when needed.
However, Dr. Saag points out that pain that persists without improvement, worsens over time, or prevents a person from sleeping at night warrants attention and medical evaluation. The importance of seeing a doctor increases if the person has previously had cancer, or is currently receiving treatment for it.
Habitual back pain versus cancer-related back pain
It can be difficult to distinguish between typical back pain and cancer-related pain based on the nature of the pain alone; Both can take different forms, appearing as sharp, dull, burning, pulsating, or stabbing pain. Therefore, attention should be paid to a group of factors, including the possible cause of the pain, the timing of its appearance, its duration, the way it develops, and other accompanying symptoms.
Cause: Habitual back pain is often associated with an obvious injury or strain, such as lifting a heavy object or spraining it while playing sports. As for pain associated with cancer; It may appear without a clear cause or previous injury that explains its occurrence.
Timing: Back pain resulting from injuries may become more severe during the day, especially when moving or engaging in physical activities, while pain related to cancer may be more noticeable during the night.
Dr. Saag explains that one possible explanation for this is that cancer cells secrete pro-inflammatory chemicals, known as cytokines, that can irritate nerves and increase their sensitivity to pain.
In addition, the body's natural pain control mechanisms change during the night. Dr. Andrew J. Fabiano, chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery and director of the Spinal Oncology Unit at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York, says that the body usually produces steroids in the morning; Which helps relieve cancer pain.
Duration: Pain caused by an injury often begins suddenly, then gradually improves with time and recovery. As for pain associated with cancer, it may last for weeks or more without going away, and its severity may gradually increase.
Associated symptoms: When back pain appears alone without other symptoms, the cause is often a muscle injury or chronic condition. But the presence of additional symptoms, such as unexplained weight loss, extreme fatigue, weakness or numbness, may increase the need for a medical evaluation to determine the cause.
Types of cancer that may cause back pain
Back pain can be associated with some types of cancer, especially when the disease spreads to the bones of the spine or affects the nerves surrounding it. The most prominent of these types are:
1. Lung cancer
Tumors that start in the lungs may spread to the bones of the spine, or press on the nerves surrounding the spinal cord. Which leads to back pain. In up to 25 percent of cases, bone pain may be the first symptom that indicates lung cancer.
The appearance of back pain in a person with a history of smoking may require a medical evaluation that takes into account the possibility of lung cancer, and this may include computed tomography of the lungs or other tests at the doctor’s discretion.
2. Breast cancer
When breast cancer spreads to the bones, the vertebrae are one of the sites where the disease may reach. This spread may lead to back pain, especially in the lower back area, as a result of the bone being affected by the tumor.
3. Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer mainly affects older men and often develops slowly. However, in its advanced stages, the disease may spread to the bones of the spine, ribs, or hips, even before other obvious symptoms appear.
The pain in these cases may appear in the form of a dull, continuous ache, or pain that seems to emanate from the bone itself.
4. Spinal cancer
Tumors can grow in or near the spine, although cancer that starts in this location is rare. The pain caused by these tumors may extend from the back to the legs, hips, arms, or chest, depending on the location of the tumor and the nerves affected by it.
If the tumor presses on the spinal cord or the nerves surrounding it; Additional symptoms may appear, such as numbness, tingling, or difficulty walking. The vertebrae of the spine can also become vulnerable to fractures if the tumor grows to a degree that weakens the bones.
5. Colon cancer
Back pain associated with colon cancer may occur when the tumor presses on nerves near the spine. In this case, the pain may be accompanied by other symptoms in the digestive system, such as constipation, diarrhea, or blood in the stool.
6. Kidney cancer
The kidneys are located at the back of the body, on either side of the spine and in the upper abdomen. However, back pain is not necessarily an early symptom of kidney cancer, and the pain may not appear in the location of the kidneys themselves.
Dr. Sag explains that kidney-related pain is often concentrated in the flank area, that is, on one side of the body. In advanced stages, kidney cancer may spread to the spine; Which leads to back pain.
7. Pancreatic cancer
The pancreas is located in the back of the abdomen, so pain from pancreatic cancer may extend to the back. This pain is often concentrated in the middle of the back, specifically below the shoulder blades.
Symptoms that should not be ignored when suffering from back pain
In most cases, back pain alone is not an indication of cancer, and is often associated with common muscular or skeletal causes. However, the appearance of other symptoms in conjunction with it may require consulting a doctor to conduct the necessary tests and determine the cause.
The most prominent signs that you should pay attention to are:
Neurological symptoms: Feeling muscle weakness or numbness, or having difficulty walking or maintaining balance, may indicate a problem affecting the nerves. The occurrence of new changes in the ability to control the bladder or bowel may indicate severe pressure on the nerves in the spine, and requires urgent medical evaluation.
Weight loss or fever for no apparent reason: If a person loses weight without following a diet or trying to lose weight, or he develops a fever whose cause is unknown; These symptoms may require medical examinations, especially if they are accompanied by persistent back pain. These signs do not necessarily mean cancer, as they may also result from other health conditions, including infections.
Persistent or worsening pain: Back pain that does not improve with rest or over-the-counter medications, or that increases in severity over time, may require a medical evaluation to determine the cause. Dr. Sag explains the importance of examination, if the pain persists for more than a week, and especially if it does not disappear within a month. However, you should not wait this long if the pain is severe or accompanied by other warning signs.
