A woman noticed persistent lower back pain for some time. Initially, she didn't pay much attention to it. However, after six months, her back pain worsened, prompting her to seek medical attention accompanied by her family. After a detailed examination, she was unexpectedly diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the left lower lung. This result left her in disbelief—how could back pain lead to a diagnosis of lung cancer? In fact, when lung cancer metastasizes to the spine, it can cause symptoms of back pain.
Why does cancer cause back pain? Back pain is mostly caused by diseases such as lumbar disc herniation and muscle strain, but it can also be caused by bone metastases from cancer. Once cancer cells spread to the bones, they may cause pain symptoms in areas such as the pelvis, lower back, and spine, which may progressively worsen. Back pain caused by cancer may be related to bone metastasis, nerve compression, inflammatory reactions, and side effects of radiation and chemotherapy. After cancer metastasizes to the bones, it may damage bone tissue, leading to pain. Additionally, cancers in the lower back, pelvis, and other areas may compress surrounding nerves, causing pain. Furthermore, inflammation reactions may also cause back pain. Besides, cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy may also cause symptoms of back pain.
There are two characteristics of back pain symptoms caused by cancer!
1. Persistent back pain: Back pain symptoms caused by cancer generally persist. If back pain symptoms persist and worsen progressively, further investigation is warranted.
2. Accompanied by other symptoms: If there is persistent back pain accompanied by fatigue, fractures, unexplained weight loss, etc., cancer should be suspected.
Three Parts of the Body Where Pain May Signal Cancer
According to statistics, one-fourth of new cancer patients, one-third of cancer patients undergoing treatment, and three-fourths of advanced cancer patients experience pain symptoms. If pain symptoms occur in the following areas, be alert to the onset of cancer!
1. Pain in the liver area: Be cautious of liver cancer if there are obvious pain symptoms in the body surface area corresponding to the liver, especially if the pain worsens progressively. As the tumor grows, it may compress the liver capsule. Patients often experience decreased appetite, recurrent bleeding from the nose or gums, dizziness, fatigue, significant weight loss, etc.
2. Persistent right shoulder pain: Be vigilant for lung or liver cancer. The lung apex corresponds to the thoracic outlet, where many nerve plexuses are distributed. If cancer occurs at the lung apex, it may compress the surrounding pleura, leading to symptoms such as shoulder joint pain and muscle pain in the shoulder and back. The liver is located in the right upper abdomen. As liver cancer grows, it may invade the right diaphragm, or even involve surrounding nerves, causing right shoulder pain. If shoulder pain persists for more than two weeks and pain relief is ineffective, it is advisable to seek medical attention promptly for further evaluation.
3. Dull pain in the upper abdomen: Be wary of pancreatic cancer if there are symptoms of dull pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen, as pancreatic cancer is known as the "king of cancers." Pain symptoms caused by pancreatic cancer are more pronounced at night. Doctors remind: Tumors invading the vertebral body may cause symptoms of metastatic bone pain. Cancers such as breast cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer are prone to bone metastasis. If there are unexplained, long-term, unremitting pain symptoms in certain parts of the body, early medical attention should be sought for evaluation.