Muscle twitches, spasms or jerks can be a sign of cancer
Cancer is a disease in which some cells in the body grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. There are countless symptoms of cancer, but many of the warning signs do not seem to be related to the origin of the tumor. Sometimes the cancer is cancerous, which means it can grow and spread to other parts of the body where the nerves are concentrated, causing muscle twitching, spasms, or twitching. Muscle twitches are caused by involuntary contractions in that area or uncontrolled twitching of a muscle group served by a single motor nerve fiber.
Why do muscles twitch?
Symptoms usually appear when the tumor begins to press on the brain and prevent part of the organ from functioning normally. A brain tumor can irritate the neurons in the brain, causing muscle contractions, twitching, numbness and tingling, shallow breathing, and loss of consciousness.
Tumors that spread to the temporal, frontal, and parietal lobes can cause problems with speech, decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, and speed of thought. Therefore, it is very important to treat symptoms as soon as they appear. Anyone experiencing unusual body changes is encouraged to see a doctor for further evaluation.
Difference Between Muscle Twitch and Spasm
Pain around the muscles is called musculoskeletal pain. Twitching and convulsions are pains in the musculoskeletal system. Muscle twitches and muscle spasms are involuntary muscle contractions, but they are not exactly the same thing. A muscle twitch is a short contraction that can be repeated repeatedly. This may cause discomfort and may be slightly painful. A muscle spasm is a longer contraction. This can cause severe pain and even muscle cramps.
Cancer affecting the spinal cord is dangerous
If the spinal cord is affected, muscle problems may occur, such as thickening of the muscles in the legs, ankles, and feet. Any type of tumor can occur in the spine, including primary and secondary tumors. Most primary tumors are benign and slow growing. Secondary tumors are cancer cells that originate in other areas of the body.
Some major cancers known to spread to the spinal cord include prostate, lung, and breast cancer. Due to their high metastasizing ability, these cancers can easily spread to the tissues of the spine.
Two blood cancers such as myeloma and leukemia are also known to spread to the spine. It usually occurs when a malignant tumor occurs in white blood cells or plasma cells in the bone marrow.
Read more: Coronavirus: This is what COVID depression looks like; these are the main symptoms you should know
