Brief Answer: hi and welcome to hcm Detailed Answer: First,i hope that there will be possible some treatment modality,if not surgery than at least radio or chemoth which could slow down disease progression. C2 level damage leads to serious consequances,but tumor will infiltrate nerve roots slowly and partially so it is hard to predict the exact symptomatology. Swalloving is controlled by other nerves,but more important,c2 and higher nerves control breathing function and neck muscles. At terminal stages patients need mechanical ventilation. Also,if spine is damaged at this level.then all sensory and motoric nerves under it will be malfunctioned and it leads finally to quadriplegia. this is of course the worst scenario that happens when spine is transected.usually it happens agter traumas. Unlike this,ependimoma will cause slow compression on nerve roots and stmptoms will be much easier. It will be muscle weakness,parasthesias in neck and torso, and feeling of pressure in neck and head. We can hope than this will stop on these symptoms. Wish you good health. Regards

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