Metastatic spinal tumors, however, are normally treated with radiation as the primary therapy. Healthy spinal cord tissue is extremely sensitive to the damaging rays of radiation, even more so than brain tissue. About half of all spinal cord tumors occur in the thoracic region which is also the most sensitive. For spinal cord tumors, chemotherapy is sometimes used after surgery or radiation or when surgery or radiation are not recommended. Because spinal cord tumors can cause significant disability, rehabilitation and pain management are both an important part of treatment.
Rehabilitation involves improving mobility and learning how to take care of oneself.
Back to Top Follow-Up Rehabilitation Because of the effect that a brain tumor or treatment may have on how a person functions, rehabilitation is often an important part of a patient's recovery. Occupational rehabilitation involves restoring a person's normal daily functioning, from working with their hands to driving. Physical therapy involves improving a person's strength and motor functioning. Speech and language therapy may be important for restoring a person's ability to speak clearly again. Cognitive therapy may be important for helping a patient deal with short-term memory loss.