Persistent back pain? Don’t ignore it—It might be a sign of lung cancer

Back pain is a common problem that typically occurs due to modern lifestyle, especially bad posture from prolonged sitting, inadequate warm-ups during exercise, arthritis, or a strained muscle. People often give a deaf ear to back pain. However, if you experience a persistent back pain that refuses to go away, it’s essential to consult a doctor and get it investigated thoroughly as it can be an indicator of a more severe underlying condition such as lung cancer. Other common signs of lung cancer include a persistent cough, unexplained weight reduction, change in voice, shortness of breath and blood in sputum.

If the pain is a manifestation of lung cancer, the patient may feel it differently from regular backache. It has been observed that around 25% of people with lung cancer experience back pain.

Lung cancer can cause back pain in multiple ways:

· As a tumor from lung cancer progresses, it can build up pressure on tissues around it. If this occurs near the spine, it may lead to spinal cord compression causing pain that may spread from the upper, middle, or lower back to the arms, buttocks, or legs. The nerve irritation may result in numbness, weakness, stiffness, or tingling in the back, arms, or legs.

· If the cancer spreads or metastasizes to the leptomeninges (inner layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord), or if it sets foot in the spinal fluid, it can give rise to back pain. This type of Pain may be coupled with other complications including headaches or weakness in the arms or legs.

· A growing tumor in the lung may put pressure on nerves that exit the chest and spine, causing pain in the back, shoulders, or neck

So you have to watch out for:

• A persistent back pain while you are resting
• A pain that worsens at night, potentially disrupting your sleep
• A pain that occurs even when you are not involved in any physical activity
• A back pain that harms even while taking a deep breath
• A pain that that doesn’t respond to any physical therapy or other medical interventions

Treatment-Patients with back pain caused by lung cancer are advised to undergo a variety of innovative treatments such as chemotherapy, target therapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy depending on the stage of the tumor. In some cases, surgery is performed to remove the tumor from the lung.

Dr. Kamran Ali, Principal Consultant-Lung Transplant & Thoracic Surgery, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket New Delhi