Spinal Tumor Surgery
Spinal tumour surgery removes or reduces a tumour affecting the vertebrae or spinal cord to relieve pressure on nerves, ease pain and stabilise the spine. At Florence Healthcare International, spine and neurosurgeons work alongside medical and radiation oncology, often combining surgery with radiotherapy as part of comprehensive, coordinated cancer care.
Medically reviewed by the Florence Healthcare medical team · Last reviewed June 2026
Overview
Spinal tumour surgery treats growths affecting the vertebrae (the spinal column) or the spinal cord and its nerves. These tumours may be primary — beginning in the spine or cord itself — or, far more commonly, metastatic, having spread from a cancer elsewhere in the body such as the breast, lung, prostate or kidney. The main goals are to decompress the spinal cord and nerves to protect or improve movement and sensation, to relieve pain, to stabilise a spine weakened by the tumour, and to obtain tissue for a precise diagnosis.
Because spinal tumours rarely involve the spine alone, every case at Florence Healthcare International is planned by a multidisciplinary team in which spine and neurosurgeons work closely with medical and radiation oncology. International patients are supported by a dedicated coordinator who arranges a remote review of your imaging and reports before you travel, so the proposed plan and a transparent, itemised cost estimate can be discussed in advance.
Who is a candidate?
- You have a tumour of the vertebrae or spinal cord causing pain, weakness, numbness or changes in bladder or bowel function
- Imaging shows the tumour is compressing the spinal cord or nerve roots
- The spine has become unstable or is at risk of fracture because of the tumour
- A tissue diagnosis is needed to guide oncology treatment
- You are well enough for general anaesthesia and surgery, as assessed by the team
- Surgery fits within your wider cancer plan, often alongside radiotherapy or other oncology care
What happens
- 1
Assessment & multidisciplinary planning
Your imaging (MRI and CT), reports and medical history are reviewed remotely before travel and then by our spine, neurosurgery and oncology teams together. They confirm whether the tumour is primary or metastatic, define the surgical goals and agree how surgery fits with radiotherapy or other treatment.
- 2
The operation
Under general anaesthesia, the surgeon removes as much of the tumour as is safely possible and decompresses the spinal cord and nerves. Where the tumour has weakened the spine, the surgeon may stabilise it with instrumentation (fusion) or bone cement. Spinal-cord monitoring is used throughout to help protect neurological function.
- 3
Early recovery
You are cared for closely in the first days after surgery, with regular checks of movement and sensation. Pain relief, gentle mobilisation and physiotherapy begin early, and the team monitors the wound and your overall recovery before discharge.
- 4
Recovery & follow-up
A tailored rehabilitation plan supports your return to activity over the following weeks. The pathology result guides the next steps of cancer care, and your coordinator helps arrange follow-up imaging, oncology appointments and clear communication with your doctors at home.
Benefits
- Relieves pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, helping to protect or improve movement and sensation
- Eases pain caused by the tumour
- Stabilises a spine weakened by the tumour, supporting posture and mobility
- Provides tissue for an accurate diagnosis that guides further treatment
- Planned and delivered by a combined spine, neurosurgery and oncology team
- Often integrated with radiotherapy and other cancer care for a coordinated approach
Risks & considerations
- Neurological risk, including weakness, numbness or, rarely, worsening of spinal-cord or nerve function
- Bleeding or infection
- Risks associated with general anaesthesia
- Cerebrospinal fluid leak from the area around the spinal cord
- The tumour may not be fully removable, and it can recur or progress
- Possible need for further surgery, radiotherapy or other treatment over time
- Contact your medical team straight away if you notice new or worsening weakness, numbness, loss of bladder or bowel control, fever, or wound redness, swelling or fluid leakage, as these can signal a serious complication needing urgent assessment
Conditions this treats
Where it is performed
This procedure is delivered by our Spine Center & Orthopedics.
Learn more before you decide
Provider-reviewed guides on the related conditions, symptoms and tests in our Health Library.
Spinal Tumor Surgery — frequently asked questions
A primary spinal tumour begins in the spine or spinal cord itself. A metastatic tumour has spread to the spine from a cancer elsewhere in the body, such as the breast, lung, prostate or kidney. Metastatic tumours are much more common, and knowing which type you have shapes both the surgery and the wider treatment plan.
Not always. For many patients, particularly those with metastatic disease, surgery is not a cure on its own but an important part of wider cancer care. It often relieves pain, protects nerve function and stabilises the spine, while medical and radiation oncology address the underlying cancer. Your team will explain honestly what surgery can and cannot achieve in your situation.
Because the surgery is close to the spinal cord and nerves, there is a risk of weakness, numbness or, rarely, worsening neurological function. To reduce this, spinal-cord monitoring is used throughout the operation, and the team weighs the benefits of surgery against these risks for each patient before proceeding.
Often, yes. Spinal tumour care is planned by a multidisciplinary team, and surgery is frequently combined with radiotherapy and other cancer treatment. The sequence is tailored to your tumour type and overall plan, and is coordinated between the spine, neurosurgery and oncology teams.
Cost and length of stay depend on the type of tumour, the extent of surgery and whether stabilisation is needed, so we do not quote a fixed price. After reviewing your imaging and reports, our team prepares a transparent, itemised and personalised estimate, and explains the expected hospital stay before you commit to travel.
Yes. We strongly encourage a remote review of your MRI, CT and medical reports before you travel. This allows our multidisciplinary team to assess whether surgery is appropriate, outline the likely plan and provide a personalised cost and stay estimate, so you can make an informed decision from home.
Related treatments
Considering spinal tumor surgery?
Share your reports for a medical second opinion and a transparent, itemized cost estimate — usually within 48 hours.