Nerve and Spinal Cancer

A beautiful woman wears a head wrap and gazes into the distance

You can find exceptional treatment for nerve tumors and spinal cancer at Trinity Health Michigan. Our compassionate team includes neurosurgeons who specialize in diagnosing and treating complex cancers, such as those affecting the spinal column and nerves around the body (peripheral nerves). Our fellowship-trained neurosurgeons and neurosurgical oncologists deliver an exceptional level of care.

Whether you recently received a diagnosis or have cancer that has come back, we are here for you. Our experts offer a broad range of care options and hope for healing.

Nerve Tumors and Spinal Tumors

Spinal and peripheral nerve tumors include abnormal growths that may or may not be cancerous. Tumors may occur anywhere within the body along the nerves and spine, including the:

Dura, a layer of tissue that protects the spinal cord
Nerve sheath, a tissue covering that protects the nerves
Peripheral nerves, fibers of nerves outside of your spinal cord and brain
Spinal cord, nerve tissue that allows your brain to communicate with the rest of your body
Vertebrae, the bones of your spine

You face a higher risk of nerve tumors or spinal tumors if you have:

Certain genetic conditions, such as Von Hippel-Lindau disease and neurofibromatosis that run in families
A history of cancer, especially lung or breast cancer that spreads to other areas of the body (metastatic cancer)

Nerve Tumor and Spinal Tumor Care: Why Choose Us?

Trinity Health Michigan is home to neurosurgical experts who specialize in the surgical treatment of spinal and peripheral nerve tumors. You also benefit from the expertise of radiation oncologists and medical oncologists who coordinate care for nerve and spine cancer patients. Working together as a team, we coordinate tests and treatments to help you achieve the best possible results.

Highlights of our program include:

Pain relief: Nerve and spinal tumors cause pain that does not respond to standard treatments. We offer a range of options to help you get relief. Your care may include procedures to minimize pain, spinal cord stimulators, and implantable medication pumps. Our pain psychologists can also help you stay comfortable without strong medications.
Better outcomes: We have a track record of successful care and exceptionally low rates of complications. Our team has experience in techniques to remove large spinal cancers without removing vertebrae. This technique preserves the stability of your spine lowering your risk of complications. We also use nerve monitoring technology during surgery to protect sensitive nerve tissue.
Specialized care for metastatic tumors of the spine: Even with the best available care, cancer may come back. To help prevent recurrence, we offer the latest medical options, including immunotherapy and other chemotherapies.
Ongoing treatment: Conditions such as neurofibromatosis and von Hippel-Lindau disease (genetic conditions that are associated with spinal and nerve tumors) often require lifelong care. You can count on us to be there for you. After treatment, we continue to monitor you under active surveillance. If there are signs of recurrence, we coordinate services, so you receive timely treatment.
Nurse navigators: At Trinity Health Michigan you are not alone during your cancer care journey. Our nurse navigators are with you as you prepare for treatment, receive therapies and transition back to daily life. We coordinate appointments and help answer your questions so you can focus on feeling better.

Innovative Surgical Procedures for Nerve and Spine Cancer

Choosing an experienced program, such as the one at Trinity Health Michigan, gives you more care options. We offer innovative therapies to treat spinal and peripheral nerve tumors and lower your risk of long-term complications.

These options include:

Minimally invasive separation surgery: Neurosurgeons access the tumor through a small incision and push it away from the spinal cord. During a different procedure, radiation oncologists use high doses of radiation to shrink the tumor, often times using Cyberknife^® Radiosurgery. Separation surgery helps us tumors pressing against the spinal cord while lowering the risk of them coming back. This technique results in less pain and helps you get back to your life quickly.
Cement augmentation for spine fractures: Spinal tumors and cancer can cause small cracks (fractures) in your vertebrae (the bones that form the spinal column). Standard treatments, such as removing the affected vertebrae and reconstructing your spine, put you at risk for chronic pain. We preserve the long-term health of your spine by injecting medical-grade cement into fractured areas, when appropriate. The cement strengthens the bones, helping you avoid additional fractures.

Other Nerve and Spine Cancer Treatments

Our caring team of experts recommends the therapies that are best for your individual circumstances. We meet regularly to adjust care plans to meet your changing needs.

Your care may include:

Chemotherapy: We may recommend one or more cancer-fighting drugs to slow or stop cancer cell growth. Some forms of nerve and spine cancer respond to chemotherapy, meaning you can become cancer-free without surgery. Learn about chemotherapy and medical oncology services.
Radiation therapy: This treatment uses beams of powerful energy to break up tumors and destroy cancer cells. At Trinity Health Michigan, you also have access to CyberKnife^® Radiosurgery, which safely delivers high doses of radiation with superior accuracy. Read more about radiation therapy.
Surgery: We offer the best available surgical options, including techniques to safely remove hard-to-reach tumors.
Rehabilitation: After surgery, you may need help recovering from long-term muscle weakness or stiffness. Our team includes physical therapists who specialize in working with cancer patients. These specialists help you regain your strength and learn how to gradually increase your activity level. Find out more about supportive care and services.