What are the symptoms of spinal cord metastasis in cancer?

Spinal cord metastasis, the spread of cancer to the spinal cord, is a serious condition that requires prompt medical attention. Symptoms can vary depending on if and how far the cancer has spread.
When cancer spreads to the spine it often causes compression and destruction of nerves in the spinal column, causing neurological symptoms such as: localized pain or tenderness in any part of your back or neck; numbness or tingling in your arms and legs; muscle weakness; bladder problems (urinary urgency, incontinence); bowel problems (constipation); balance difficulties which could lead to falls; difficulty walking and coordination issues.
Other systemic symptoms from metastases include persistent fatigue, unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite, fever with chills and night sweats. It’s important to note that these signs are also common for many other conditions besides spinal metastases so proper medical diagnosis is critical for correct treatment.
If you experience any of these symptoms it’s important to talk with your doctor right away because early detection makes a difference in how successful timely treatment will be. Your doctor may order diagnostic imaging tests such as X-rays MRI scans CT Scans PET Scans bone scans and MRIs with contrast dye injection among others which can diagnose cancer's involvement of the spine. Additional testing may be ordered based on results from this initial workup.