General Medicine

» tinuviel - Spinal cancer issue

Doctors just found a tumour in one of my relatives' spine. He is my cousin's son. I don't even know all the details yet, but the operation is going to cost a lot (they've decided to remove the tumour) and I don't suppose they have insurance--but I'm not sure. (I just answered your insurance poll, by the way). I'll keep you up to date on what takes place.

-- posted by tinuviel

» tinuviel - Spinal cancer issue

In response to Spinal cancer issue posted by tinuviel:

He's seven. They did a full body (CT?) scan and found the "tumour" after several x-rays showed nothing. It turns out that one of his discs is displaced and has caused some fluid build up in the area. Can this lead to a tumour, because that's what I've heard from my aunt (he's her grandson). The doctors say they want to remove it now before it becomes malignant. How does all this sound? Have you heard of anything like this before?

-- posted by tinuviel

» P_Al - Spinal cancer issue

In response to Spinal cancer issue posted by tinuviel:

Sorry to hear about your relative. I am not sure that the disc displacement and fluid build up would lead to the tumour (are you sure you got this bit of information right). I think it is much more likely that the growing tumour caused the displacement of the disc. This could then lead to neurological signs if the spinal cord becomes compressed.

-- posted by P_Al

» tinuviel - Spinal cancer issue

In response to Spinal cancer issue posted by P_Al:

Well, that's what I was thinking, but I couldn't exactly put the question to the person who told me because it was second-hand info. They distinctly mentioned fluid though. I think we should get a second opinion.

-- posted by tinuviel

» P_Al - Spinal cancer issue

In response to Spinal cancer issue posted by tinuviel:

Well second opinions are fine. But, just as important is to make sure that you know and understand what was said with respect to the first opinion.

-- posted by P_Al

» redback - Spinal cancer issue

In response to Spinal cancer issue posted by tinuviel:

To be fair, I think the information you're getting is at least 4th hand unless the boy's cared for by his grandmum. There's probably a whole lot of information that is simply NOT sinking in or less important to pass on to relatives. It has to be a scary, pre-occupying time.

Suspecting such a tumour in a very young child is not the first thing that comes to mind unless there was a great loss of balance etc. So, the xrays first...then MRI, CT scan etc...the sense we don't think they don't know what they're doing. But mostly they do and it's a case of process of elimination.

So, talking about a 2nd opinion at a stressful time, without even knowing the name of the tumour, may possibly be premature.

Tumours displace things and cysts can form around tumours. There are a whole lot of things that could be affected depending on what the tumour actually is and what it's impinging on.

Please pass on my cyber wishes from OZ.

-- posted by redback