UnKnown Tumor Originating on Thoracic Spine

Indiglo · New User Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 2

[b][color=blue][/color]Hi Everyone,

So far the doctor doesn't know what it is. I've been having back pain for 2 years and thought it was a back injury from work. Now I find out that there is this HUGE tumor on my back. It starts at just under the shoulder blades directly on my spine. It continues down and disappears into my buttock region. It is about 6 inches across. The edges are not easily defined. It is of a gelatinous consistency as if it were fat, but its not fat. It even shows up on a regular MRI as fat. We haven't done a deferential MRI yet.

Anyway, from everything I have read in trying to research this, it isn't sounding good. You wouldn't even know that it was there unless you knew to look for it. 6 different doctors over the past 2 years have looked at it and didn't even see it, because they weren't looking for a tumor. It doesn't protrude from the body. Yet it covers the whole spine where it is. The doctors forgot when looking at my back that you are supposed to be able to see the spine no matter how big someone is. It is like the spine is the defining middle point of the body, yet from just below the shoulder blades my is missing upon first inspection.

Literature says that because it does not hurt, (except to cause spasms in the surrounding muscles) and because it isn't easily defined that it is probably some type of cancer.

Has anyone else seen something like this? I have been trying to find a description on what it might be, but can't find anything. It is not a lipoma. That has already been ruled out. I am scared. I do not know what all damage it is doing. I know that my back muscles are weaker. Anyway, need some feed back.

Thank you Confused

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leo · Site Admin Joined: 23 Sep 2004 Posts: 1574

Dear Indiglo

Thanks for your post and sorry to hear about this. Have you had any type of biopsy to sort it out ? This can be a tumor originating from the bones, or even from the soft tissues. But it is hard to tell what it is, and it certainly sounds like you will need some form of diagnostic procedure such as a biopsy.

best regards,
Leo
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Leonardo F - Webmaster Cancer Forums
Disclaimer: this information is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.

Indiglo · New User Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 2

[b]]Hi, thank you for getting back to me. No, I have not had a biopsy. It is my opinion that a biopsy would spread the cancer, if it is cancer. Shocked

I have read that a "Ultrsound" is just as accurate at finding out if it is cancer or not.

But, again, no. I have not had an Ultrasound done yet either. I literally just found out at the end of December that this [/b][i][b]tumor[/b][/i] [b]is what is causing my back pain. I have seen another Doctor in the meantime. He feels it is [i]"crazy"[/i] that no one has seen it before. He has ordered the regular MRI scan images. I imagine that he will order a diferrential MRI when he finds out that this tumor doesn't show up on the regular one as anything unusual. Rolling Eyes

At least for the doctor that has seen it. I actually got my hands on the MRI report and it doesn't even mention it.

And, (sorry, I do not remember if I mentioned this) there is another tumor on my hip. I am about 60 pounds overwieght, so I never really thought about it before. Sad

I know that I noticed it about 2 years ago. At that time it was just a strange lump under the fat. (I'm tall and have a large bone structure, so being 60 pounds over wieght doesn't really look that bad on me.)

It started in a spot where I get shots for my migraines, so I just thought it was scar tissue. (Since I have Fibromyalgia, I thought it possibly could be an overgraowth of scar tissue) But, now the surface area of the tumor there on my hip is the size of my entire hand. And, I don't care how small someone's hand is, for a tumor that is HUGE. So, this one is really huge too. I thought it could possible be a metastisized piece of the other tumor on my back, but they are not the same consistency. The tumor on my hip doesn't hurt either. The skin covering it hurts when I put too much pressure on it, but the tumor is completely without feeling. Which I hear is very bad.

I'm otherwise healthy. I do not have swollen lymph glands. I do not get sick very often. I had the flu 2 years ago and that was the last time I can really remember being sick. Before that it was even longer, except I remember having a cold or 2 before that. I do not even remember having a cold for the last 2 years.

I am studying to be a Master Herbalist and I am already a Natural Health Consultant. So, I take good care of myself. I have started drinking pomegranate juice and have been drinking 6 to 8 cups of green tea everyday for years. Maybe that is what kept the tumor from causing other symptoms, like getting sick all the time. And, the Fibromyalgia would cover up any tiredness that I may have been having.

Sorry, here I am just running on. Just wanted to give you a better picture. [/b] Rolling Eyes

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