Can Cancer Cause Lower Back Pain?

Lower back pain can have several causes, including a herniated disk, fracture, sprains, and, although rare, cancer. Colorectal (colon) cancer causes the cells in the large intestine (colon) to grow abnormally. A tumor in a part of the colon close to the spine can grow big enough to cause lower back or buttock pain.

Back pain would not be your only symptom if you have colon cancer. Other symptoms include a change in bowel habits, abdominal cramps, and rectal bleeding. Read on to learn when lower back pain can be a sign of cancer.

What Does Colon Cancer Pain Feel Like?

Pain will depend on where and how the tumor is growing. A tumor forms if cancer cells grow out of control. The growth can press on certain areas and cause pain if it grows large enough. Abdominal pain is a fairly common colon cancer symptom.

Most of the colon touches other abdominal organs. The rectum is located near the spine. A tumor that grows in this area can place enough pressure on the back or tailbone to cause pain.

This pain can take on several qualities, such as sharp, stabbing pain in the lower back or tailbone. The pain may become progressively worse, evolving into a dull ache. You might notice lower back pain when driving, sitting, and trying to sleep. It can be hard to sit comfortably for more than a few minutes at a time.

Other Symptoms of Colon Cancer

Back pain is not the most common symptom of colon cancer, but it can happen. Other symptoms typically accompany this pain.

Colon cancer symptoms include:

• A change in bowel habits (e.g., constipation, diarrhea, or narrowing of the stool) that lasts for more than a few days 
• Abdominal cramps or pain
• Bloody stool that's black or dark brown
• Fatigue or weakness
• Feeling like you need to have a bowel movement after having one
• Rectal bleeding
• Unintended weight loss

Other Causes of Lower Back Pain

Cancer is a rare cause of back and tailbone pain. Injury to the spine, certain health conditions, and lifestyle factors are most likely to cause lower back pain.

Injury

Injury is the most common cause of lower back pain. Common injuries include:

• A herniated disk, in which one of the spinal disks slips out of place
• Compression fractures of the spine, which often occur due to osteoporosis (brittle, weak bones)
• Sciatica, or pain or numbness that occurs as a result of an injury to the sciatic nerve 
• Spinal fractures
• Strains or tears to the muscles and ligaments in the back

Causes Without Injury

Other causes of lower back pain include:

• Arthritis, or inflammation and swelling of the joints
• Gallbladder or pancreas problems
• Gynecological concerns (e.g., ovarian cysts or uterine fibroids)
• Health conditions that cause spine curvatures (e.g., kyphosis or scoliosis)
• Infection of the spine
• Kidney infection or kidney stones
• Muscle spasms
• Pregnancy
• Sitting for long periods
• Spinal stenosis, or narrowing of the spinal column

Cancers 

Many cancers can cause lower back pain. In addition to colorectal cancer, these include cancers of the ovaries, prostate, stomach, and uterus.

Tailbone pain can be a sign of chordoma, or a type of cancer of the spine. This pain usually starts at the tailbone and extends down the legs. You might also have trouble with bladder and bowel control.

Diagnosing Cancer and Back Pain

A healthcare provider will ask about your risk factors for colon cancer. These include being older than age 50 years, having a history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and having a family member with colon cancer.

The healthcare provider will then conduct a physical exam. This includes feeling your abdomen and conducting a digital rectal exam. The healthcare provider will use a lubricated, gloved finger to feel the inside of your rectum for abnormalities.

It may take more than a physical exam to pinpoint what's causing back or tailbone pain if a healthcare provider suspects cancer. Other diagnostic tests include:

• Blood tests: These detect different markers that can signal cancer. Colon cancer cells can sometimes make tumor markers that show up on blood tests. A tumor marker called carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is the most common, but not always.
• Colonoscopy: A healthcare provider will insert a thin tube with a video camera on the end through the anus and into the colon. This tube allows for instruments to pass through that can remove a tissue sample for testing.
• Imaging tests: These include various techniques that take detailed pictures of the inside of your body. A healthcare provider may use imaging tests to detect cancer, see how far it has spread, and determine if treatment is working. Imaging tests include computer tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and X-rays.
• Proctoscopy: This is similar to a colonoscopy but only examines the rectum. A healthcare provider might use this procedure if they suspect rectal cancer.
• Stool tests: These look for blood you cannot see with the naked eye, or occult blood. You can do fecal occult blood tests and fecal immunochemical tests at home.

Treatment 

Treatment for colon cancer depends on what stage the cancer is in. The stage lets you know the degree to which the cancer has spread. Staging for colon cancer ranges from stage 0 (within the colon) to stage 4 (distant body parts.

Medical Treatments 

Medical treatments for colon cancer may include:

• Chemotherapy: This uses intravenous (IV) or oral medicines that stop cancer cells from growing.
• Cryosurgery: A healthcare provider uses an instrument to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue.
• Immunotherapy: This biological therapy uses your immune system to boost your natural defenses against cancer.
• Radiation therapy: High-energy X-rays or other types of radiation can kill cancer cells and stop them from growing. External radiation therapy involves a machine outside the body. Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance that a healthcare provider places into your body.
• Radiofrequency ablation: This uses a probe with tiny electrodes to kill cancer cells.
• Surgery: This is the most common treatment for all stages. Surgery removes a small section of tissue in the early stages. You might require surgery that removes a larger section of the colon in later stages.
• Targeted therapy: This attacks specific cancer cells and is usually less harmful to healthy cells than chemotherapy or radiation. Examples include angiogenesis inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and protein kinase inhibitors.

People with more advanced stages of colon cancer (e.g., stages 3 or 4) may consider joining a clinical trial. Clinical trials are essential tools for developing new treatments or improving existing ones.

At-Home Remedies

You can typically treat lower back pain at home by:

• Applying ice for the first 48–72 hours and then using heat
• Avoiding heavy lifting or twisting for at least six weeks
• Curling up in the fetal position and placing a pillow between your legs when sleeping  
• Sitting with a straight back and placing a small pillow behind your lower back
• Stopping physical activities for a few days
• Taking pain relievers like Advil (ibuprofen) and Tylenol (acetaminophen)
• Using relaxation methods (e.g., massage, tai chi, or yoga)

When To Contact a Healthcare Provider

The signs and symptoms of colon cancer are similar to those of other health cancers, such as an infection, hemorrhoids, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). See a healthcare provider, regardless of what you think your symptoms may be.

When should I be worried about lower back pain? See a healthcare provider right away if you have back pain that lasts longer than four weeks and:

• A fever with no apparent reason
• A personal or family history of cancer
• Back pain after an injury
• Back pain that worsens when lying down or wakes you up at night
• Bowel or urinary incontinence (loss of control)
• Burning with urination or bloody urine
• Pain that extends down your leg below your knee
• Unintended weight loss
• Weakness or numbness in your buttocks, legs, thighs, or pelvis

A healthcare provider can run tests to detect the cause of your symptoms. Cancer screening is also important. Screening can prevent cancer because it can detect precancerous polyps. A healthcare provider can remove these polyps before they develop into cancer.

A Quick Review

Colon cancer is not a common cause of lower back or tailbone pain. Back pain can have a number of more likely causes, including a herniated disk, sprains, and strains. A tumor in your rectum could be causing back pain, but it's rare.

Remember, you are your own best advocate. Listen to yourself if something is nagging you or does not feel right, and speak up. Colon cancer is treatable if you detect it early.