Monday, January 19, 2026 – Closed
In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Monday, January 19, 2026 – Closed
In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The chance of developing a cancerous brain or spinal tumor is less than 1% in a person’s lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. The causes and risk factors of both brain and spinal cancers are not well known. Genetics do seem to play a role in certain types of these cancers however, there does not appear to be a risk of these cancers running in a family.
Causes and risk factors of brain cancer:
Causes and risk factors of spinal cancer:
The brain and spinal cord, which is an extension of the brain, act together to control many body functions. The three parts of the brain are the stem that connects to the spinal cord, the cerebrum and the cerebellum. These control a variety of things including blood pressure, heartbeat, judgment, learning, speech, emotions, balance and muscle movements to name a few. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves protected in the spinal column that sends messages between the brain and body parts, relating such things as pain or the need to move a limb.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke reports more than 120 types of brain and spinal tumors. Tumors occur when genes that control cell growth mutate or are damaged. This results in a mass of cells (the tumor) that can kill healthy cells and disrupt brain/spine functions.
Some tumors are benign. These cells grow slowly, similar to normal cells, and have distinct edges that make surgical removal easier. These tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.
Some tumors are malignant. These are abnormal cancerous cells, can spread quickly to other parts of the body, and have indistinct edges that make surgical removal difficult.
Though only about 30% of brain tumors are actually cancerous, the benign ones are generally not considered to be truly benign (not causing harm) because they will grow and can cause serious and life-threatening issues. Neurosurgery is often required for benign brain and spine tumors, as well as malignant ones.
A primary cancer tumor of the brain or spine originates in that area. A secondary cancer tumor spreads to the brain or spine from some cancer at another location such as the breast, lung and skin (melanoma).
Brain and spinal tumors and cancers usually are named after their location or the type of cell they came from.
Glioma cancers grow from glial cells that hold neurons in place. These are the most common type of brain cancer, making up about half of primary brain cancers.
Astrocytoma cancers grow from the star-shaped astrocyte brain cells. These slow-growing cancers are the most common type of glioma. Different astrocytomas include the following:
Nonglial cell brain cancers:
A spinal cord primary cancer tumor, also known as an intradural tumor, starts in the spinal cord or its covering, called the dura. The main intradural tumors are below.
Intramedullary cancers that include astrocytomas, ependymomas and gliomas, which make up about 20% of primary spine cancers.
Extramedullary tumors grow in the membrane around the spinal cord or in the nerves coming from it. Meningiomas, nerve sheath tumors, neurofibromas and schwannomas are types of extramedullary spine cancers.
These are second to leukemia as the most common type of cancer in children. We often treat these cancers in children differently than we do in adults. Surgical removal of the tumor is the usual treatment for children with these tumors.
Signs of spinal and brain tumors and cancer vary due to such factors as the kind of tumor, its size, location and the patient’s health. Both types of cancer share some common symptoms.
These generally relate to the area of the brain the tumor is in. For example, a tumor in the front part of the brain can cause difficulty concentrating. A large tumor can create pressure throughout the brain, resulting in multiple symptoms.
Signs of a brain tumor can be similar to symptoms of other conditions. So, it is important to have such symptoms evaluated. Early signs of brain cancer are numbness, seizures and headaches. Headache pain that changes as the person moves, wakes the individual up at night, or lasts for days or weeks at a time are also causes for concern. Other symptoms include:
Signs of a spine tumor or cancer can come on slowly or rapidly. Pain is the most common symptom and can result from the tumor pressing on the spinal cord and its nerves.
This tumor pressure can also create numbness in the legs and arms. Symptoms can progress, making the person lose control over functions like tying shoes and fastening buttons. Signs include:
The chance of developing a cancerous brain or spinal tumor is less than 1% in a person’s lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. The causes and risk factors of both brain and spinal cancers are not well known. Genetics do seem to play a role in certain types of these cancers however, there does not appear to be a risk of these cancers running in a family.
Causes and risk factors of brain cancer:
Causes and risk factors of spinal cancer:
The brain and spinal cord, which is an extension of the brain, act together to control many body functions. The three parts of the brain are the stem that connects to the spinal cord, the cerebrum and the cerebellum. These control a variety of things including blood pressure, heartbeat, judgment, learning, speech, emotions, balance and muscle movements to name a few. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves protected in the spinal column that sends messages between the brain and body parts, relating such things as pain or the need to move a limb.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke reports more than 120 types of brain and spinal tumors. Tumors occur when genes that control cell growth mutate or are damaged. This results in a mass of cells (the tumor) that can kill healthy cells and disrupt brain/spine functions.
Some tumors are benign. These cells grow slowly, similar to normal cells, and have distinct edges that make surgical removal easier. These tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.
Some tumors are malignant. These are abnormal cancerous cells, can spread quickly to other parts of the body, and have indistinct edges that make surgical removal difficult.
Though only about 30% of brain tumors are actually cancerous, the benign ones are generally not considered to be truly benign (not causing harm) because they will grow and can cause serious and life-threatening issues. Neurosurgery is often required for benign brain and spine tumors, as well as malignant ones.
A primary cancer tumor of the brain or spine originates in that area. A secondary cancer tumor spreads to the brain or spine from some cancer at another location such as the breast, lung and skin (melanoma).
Brain and spinal tumors and cancers usually are named after their location or the type of cell they came from.
Glioma cancers grow from glial cells that hold neurons in place. These are the most common type of brain cancer, making up about half of primary brain cancers.
Astrocytoma cancers grow from the star-shaped astrocyte brain cells. These slow-growing cancers are the most common type of glioma. Different astrocytomas include the following:
Nonglial cell brain cancers:
A spinal cord primary cancer tumor, also known as an intradural tumor, starts in the spinal cord or its covering, called the dura. The main intradural tumors are below.
Intramedullary cancers that include astrocytomas, ependymomas and gliomas, which make up about 20% of primary spine cancers.
Extramedullary tumors grow in the membrane around the spinal cord or in the nerves coming from it. Meningiomas, nerve sheath tumors, neurofibromas and schwannomas are types of extramedullary spine cancers.
These are second to leukemia as the most common type of cancer in children. We often treat these cancers in children differently than we do in adults. Surgical removal of the tumor is the usual treatment for children with these tumors.
Signs of spinal and brain tumors and cancer vary due to such factors as the kind of tumor, its size, location and the patient’s health. Both types of cancer share some common symptoms.
These generally relate to the area of the brain the tumor is in. For example, a tumor in the front part of the brain can cause difficulty concentrating. A large tumor can create pressure throughout the brain, resulting in multiple symptoms.
Signs of a brain tumor can be similar to symptoms of other conditions. So, it is important to have such symptoms evaluated. Early signs of brain cancer are numbness, seizures and headaches. Headache pain that changes as the person moves, wakes the individual up at night, or lasts for days or weeks at a time are also causes for concern. Other symptoms include:
Signs of a spine tumor or cancer can come on slowly or rapidly. Pain is the most common symptom and can result from the tumor pressing on the spinal cord and its nerves.
This tumor pressure can also create numbness in the legs and arms. Symptoms can progress, making the person lose control over functions like tying shoes and fastening buttons. Signs include: