Rare Forms Of Cancer To Be Aware Of
The Frightening Truth About Chordoma
Chordoma is a form of bone cancer found in the skull and spine and is only diagnosed in one in a million individuals per year. Chordoma tumors affect approximately three-hundred Americans, and seven-hundred Europeans per year, with the average age being those in their fifties and sixties, however, it can affect anyone at any age. This extraordinarily rare cancer grows from minuscule remnants of cartilage left behind from when the patient was in utero, and experts have indicated it is not caused by genetics. Chordoma is part of a group of malignant bone and soft tissue tumors known as sarcomas. Chordoma grows quite slowly but aggressively, which often leads to headaches, neck pain, double vision, loss of bowel and bladder function, and a tingling sensation in the arms and legs.
This condition accounts for approximately three percent of all bone tumors and twenty percent of primary spinal tumors. Despite its rarity, Chordoma is the most common type of tumor that affects the sacrum and cervical spine.
How To Treat Chordoma Tumors
Chordomas are a unique and complex tumor, making treating them difficult due to the involvement of critical structures within the body, including the brainstem, spinal cord, and important nerves and arteries. Chordoma tumors often reoccur after treatment, usually in the same location, which is called local recurrence. In about thirty to forty percent of patients, the tumor will eventually spread or metastasize, to other parts of the body, making this form of cancer incredibly dangerous to develop.
These specific forms of tumors do not respond well to chemotherapy, radiation, or medications in general and the best option for patients is surgery. Surgery is the primary way to remove the tumor. However, it is a difficult procedure due to the tumor growing on the spine and around vital nerves, meaning surgeons can often only remove parts of the chordoma tumor, but not all of it, hence why there is a chance of recurrence.
