When treating cancer that has spread to the spine, physicians are relying on cement to stabilize the vertebrae and improve patients' quality of life, according to CBS.
Here are four things to know:
1. Cancer cells may work their way to the spine and eat away at vertebral bodies until they become unstable.
2. Treating these types of bone tumors usually requires radiation.
3. Physicians are now radiating the bone tumor in the operating room before inserting medical grade epoxy cement into the spine to stabilize it.
4. The procedure takes one hour.
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