Surgery

In the case of a tumor that has broken outside of a vertebral body (the individual bones that make up the spine), your doctor may recommend surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible before beginning radiation. This is typically performed by a surgeon who specializes in surgery for the spine or bone.

If surgery is performed, radiation typically starts several weeks after surgery to allow your body to heal.

For tumors that have not broken outside of the vertebral body or that have caused collapse of the vertebral body (sometimes called a compression fracture), your doctor may recommend seeing a specialist (interventional radiologist or spine surgeon) that can insert a type of bone cement to stabilize the bone, which will reduce pain.