What happens when it spreads to the spine?

Lizibet, it probably won't make any difference to his treatment plan - it is important for the doctors to know exactly where it has and hasn't spread so that they can monitor him in the future. It sounds like they are unsure whether the hotspots are cancer or old wear & tear / injuries so they may be quite small areas. Men with big tumours on their spine have to watch for certain symptoms because of a possible complication called spinal cord compression but I suspect that will be something your dad won't need to worry about for the time being.

Hi,

Your dad will be offered the same treatment regardless of where in the body the cancer has spread (as far as I am aware). My father also had a hotspot in his spine on diagnosis.

Hopefully, your dad's team will make him aware but you should get familiar with the symptoms of spinal cord compression, or SCC (as others have mentioned). It is a rare, but possible, result of tumours in the spine. We were not made aware and my father was diagnosed too late - the consequences have been life changing.

Good luck to your dad with his treatment,

K x x