Back Pain and Lung Cancer: Don't Miss the Red Flags!

80% of the world population will experience back pain at some point in their lives. 

It can affect anybody, from adolescents to the elderly.

According to WHO, in 9 out of 10 cases of back pain, the primary cause or the root of the pain is often unidentified. 

Nobody sees back pain as a red flag, especially an indicator of lung cancer. But, cancer specialists say it can be. 

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. It is often stigmatized as a “smoker’s disease.” However, with the increase in pollution and a general decline in lifestyle, even non-smokers cannot escape the risk of lung cancer. 

Just like anybody can get back pain, anybody can get lung cancer. And sometimes the two can be connected. 

What we must understand is that while not every back pain means the possibility of lung cancer, around 25% of lung cancer patients have experienced some form of back pain. 

How is lung cancer & back pain related?

Unexplained backache can be a sign of lung cancer. Not all the time, but sometimes. If lung cancer continues to grow and spread to the spine, it creates pressure on the backbone and spinal cord, causing pain and discomfort in the neck or upper, middle, or lower back. The pain may eventually spread to arms, legs, and buttocks. 

Sudden limb weakness, which can occur due to cord compression; numbness, weakness, or stiffness of back or neck; and even generalized muscle cramp or sharp pain which feels like current can be an indicator of lung cancer-related pain. 

So, it is in your best interest to consult a cancer doctor if you are suspecting your back pain may be related to lung cancer. 

The expert guidance of specialists like Dr. Manish Singhal, the best lung cancer doctor in Delhi NCR, can help. 

But, are there any red flags of back pain that can help you determine whether you should or shouldn’t talk to a cancer specialist? Yes. And that’s exactly what we’ll discuss now.

Red flags of back pain to look out for

85% of back pain is musculoskeletal pain; it doesn’t involve the spinal column and is generally caused by pain in muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. 

The remaining 15% can either constitute pathological pain or pain due to underlying conditions, like lung cancer. 

This is where the red flags come in. The red flags of back pain require further imaging, diagnostic workup, and consequent treatment. 

If you need help determining whether your back pain is related to lung cancer or not, you can always consult a reputed oncologist in Noida or anywhere else like Dr. Manish Singhal. You can get the right guidance or treatment for lung cancer in Delhi NCR, whichever is required. 

But first, here are the red flags:

Cauda Equina Syndrome

Cauda equina syndrome or CES is a rare, serious neurological condition affecting the bundle of nerve roots at the lower end of the spinal cord. 

It occurs when the nerve roots of the cauda equina are compressed and disrupt motor and sensory function to the lower extremities and bladder.

If you experience:

• Lower back pain
• Saddle anesthesia (loss of sensation in some areas of the buttocks, perineum, and inner surfaces of the thighs)
• Bowel/bladder dysfunction. Then you should reach out to a doctor, especially a cancer doctor. Imaging and further investigation are required in this case. It is often related to injury but sometimes may correlate to lung cancer.

Bony malignancy

Bones, especially spinal columns, are one of the most common places for metastasized cancer. In this case, a patient should be asked if he/she has a history of cancer, a current diagnosis of cancer, or symptoms of cancer like weight loss or night sweats. Why? Because lung cancer can easily metastasize to the bony columns of the back. 

Infection

Osteomyelitis or OM is an infection of the bone. It often occurs in the vertebral column of adults. If a patient has a fever or chills, a history of IV drug abuse, if they’re immunocompromised or if they had a recent spinal, LP, or epidural, along with back pain it is advised to get imaging done for OM. Lung cancer often mimics OM. 

Neurological changes

As lung cancer spreads it can often compress nerves, affecting nerve transmissions to the lower back, muscles, and bones. This gives rise to pinched nerves and causes lower back pain. In fact, according to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, lower back pain due to cancer spread is one of the earliest symptoms of lung cancer. Even numbness, tingling, paralysis, etc., along with lower back pain, can be associated with lung cancer. 

A few more things a patient/doctor can look out for:

• Back pain that occurs without any activity.
• Back pain that is the worst at night.
• Back pain worsens if one is lying on the bed.
• Back pain that gets worse while taking a deep breath.
• Back pain that does not respond to physical therapy or other medicines.

The finishing touch

Not all back pain is lung cancer. But if there is a chance of your back pain being a symptom of lung cancer, it would be advisable for you to immediately seek advice from a good cancer doctor like Dr. Manish Singhal, a top cancer specialist in Delhi.