What is it?

Chordoma is a rare type of bone cancer that happens most often in the bones of the spine or the skull. It most often forms where the skull sits atop the spine (skull base) or at the bottom of the spine (sacrum). Chordoma begins in cells that once made up a collection of cells in the developing embryo that become the disks of the spine. Most of these cells go away after birth. But sometimes, a few of these cells remain, and rarely, they can become cancerous. Chordoma happens most often in adults between 40 and 60, though it can happen at any age. Chordoma usually grows slowly. It can be challenging to treat because it's often located very close to the spinal cord and other vital structures, such as arteries, nerves, or the brain.