Types and Goals of Treatment for Thymus Cancer

Different types of treatment have different goals. These are the different treatments for thymus cancer and their goals. You may have more than one of these treatments.

• Surgery. Surgery is a common treatment for thymus cancer. The goal of surgery is to remove the tumor and some of the tissue around it. In almost all cases the doctor removes the whole thymus gland.

• Radiation therapy. The goal of radiation therapy is to kill cancer cells using X-rays. Doctors use this treatment to shrink a tumor before surgery or to get rid of any remaining cancer cells after surgery. Doctors also use this therapy to treat recurrent disease. People with thymus cancer will usually get radiation along with other treatments.

• Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs. Its goal is to kill cancer cells and reduce the chance that the cancer will spread to other parts of the body. Doctors may give chemotherapy either before, after, or in place of surgery. They may also use it to treat the cancer if it has spread to other parts of the body.

Follow-up exams are an important part of treatment for thymus cancer. You will need tests and exams to monitor your health. Follow-up tests include chest X-rays, CT (computed tomography) scans, and blood tests. Sometimes your doctor may order MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans.

Researchers continue to test new medicines and treatments in clinical trials for thymus cancer. If you would like to participate in a clinical trial, ask your doctor if there are any for which you may qualify.