The thoracic vertebrae sit in the middle of your spine between the cervical (neck) and lumbar. There are 12 thoracic vertebrae and they are the only ones to support ribs. They are labelled T1 to T12.
I have metastatic breast cancer in my T3, which sits between my shoulder blades.
This is my first attempt at drawing a realistic vertebrae, so it definitely isn’t perfect. This is one without cancer. I don’t know what my one looks like exactly: a little growth somewhere in there.
80% of spinal cancers are secondary, ie they originated in a different part of the body, and are therefore terminal.
I also have a cancer in the cervical vertabrae, C7, which sits at the base of the neck. It is also called vertebra prominens. There are 7 cervical vertebrae.
C7 controls the movement of the head and is closely linked to the use of arms and hands; although leg movement can also be affected if it is damaged. Serious damage to C7 can cause paralysis.
Cancer can grow in different parts of your vertebrae.
“Intradural-extramedullary tumor:
This type of tumor is located inside the thin covering of your spinal cord (dura) but outside of your actual spinal cord. Approximately 40% of all spinal tumors are in this area.
Intramedullary tumor:
This type of tumor grows inside of your spinal cord. Approximately 5% of all spinal tumors are in this area.
Extradural tumor:
This type of tumor is located outside your dura (the thin covering surrounding your spinal cord), which includes your vertebrae (the bones that form your spine). Approximately 55% of spinal tumors are in this area.”
Source: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/breast-cancer/secondary/symptoms
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