Thymus Gland Cancer

Thymus gland is amongst the most important glands in the human body. Thymus gland cancer is the cancer of the thymus gland. It is a rare condition, but then if it happens it must be treated on time. With proper treatment at proper time the cancer can be cured.

The Thymus Gland

The thymus gland is a gland which is located at the front of the body. It is located inside the chest cavity and is behind the chest bone. The thymus gland is amongst the important glands in the human body because it is responsible for producing the fighting T-cells of our body, known as T lymphocytes. These are the fighting cells of our bodies and they produce anti-bodies and help to fight against diseases, and increase immunity. The thymus gland is largest in size in adolescence, but then it starts decreasing after puberty. Its place is taken by fat and scar tissues. Throughout our life, the function of the thymus gland is to produce T lymphocytes cells.

Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma

Like I mentioned before, thymus gland cancer is rare and its causes are unknown. The cancer is caused when DNAs in the cell are damaged. And this happens when normal cell growth is affected. Thymoma is the cancer of the thymus gland. People who are of the age 40-60 years are more susceptible to thymoma. Initially, thymoma may not be identified until much later. This is the time when the cancer is stable. But then, as it advances, it can spread rapidly to other parts of the body. Thymic carcinoma is a rarer type of cancer. It can be more deadly than thymoma and also fast growing.

Symptoms

Thymus gland cancer can be a strange medical condition and prognosis can be a little difficult, and that is because the symptoms of this form of cancer are very common and can be misunderstood. It may be possible that you may get to know about it when you go for a general checkup. Few of the symptoms are:

• Difficulty in swallowing
• Shortness of breath
• Severe chest pain
• Persistent cough
• Hard piercing voice
• Swelling of the neck

Treatment

A sure shot treatment is surgery. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may also be used to treat it. The patient may also be treated with chemotherapy first, before a surgery, because with chemotherapy, the size of large tumors can be reduced, and hence the surgery then can be very effective.

With the help of surgery, it is possible to remove the tumor completely, provided it has not spread to other parts of the body. This typically is possible, if the patient is in the initial stages of thymoma. For later stages of thymoma, surgery may be followed by radiotherapy. Radiotherapy helps to destroy cancer cells from other surrounding parts, if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Over here, since the tumor has spread to other parts of the body, radiotherapy must have been effective in destroying the cancerous cells, but then there may be a possibility that these cancerous cells may grow again. If this happens the patient will again be treated with radiotherapy to destroy the cancerous cells. Chemotherapy is a treatment which is given to the patient, if surgery and radiotherapy weren't successful. Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer drugs which help to destroy cancer cells. Most of the time, chemotherapy is very effective for treating thymoma.

Research is being conducted to find out new methods and treatments for curing thymoma or thymus gland cancer. Such research will help find out new ways of surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy to ensure complete removal of cancerous cells from the body. If you find the symptoms similar to what is mentioned over here, it is suggested to get it diagnosed, before it is too late. Take care!