As an expert in the field of oncology, I can provide you with information on the rarity of spinal cancer. Spinal tumors can be classified into two main types: primary and secondary (metastatic). Primary spinal tumors originate within the spine, while secondary spinal tumors result from the spread of cancer from other parts of the body.
Primary spinal tumors are indeed quite rare. They can be benign or malignant, with malignant primary spinal tumors being even rarer. Osteogenic sarcoma, or osteosarcoma, is a type of malignant bone tumor, but it is not the most common primary spinal tumor. It is, however, the most common malignant bone tumor when considering the entire skeletal system.
Secondary spinal tumors, which are a form of cancer spread, are more common than primary spinal tumors. They often result from cancers that originate in other organs, such as the prostate or lung in men, as you've mentioned.
To summarize, while primary spinal tumors are rare and usually grow slowly, secondary spinal tumors are more common due to the spread of cancer from other sites.
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