Also called: Also called: Thymic carcinoma, Thymoma
The thymus is a small organ in your upper chest, under your breastbone. Before birth and during childhood, the thymus helps the body make a type of white blood cell. These cells help protect you from infections.
Cancer of the thymus is rare. You are more likely to get it if you have other diseases such as myasthenia gravis, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Sometimes there are no symptoms. Other times, thymus cancer can cause
- A cough that doesn't go away
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing
The most common treatment is surgery to remove the tumor. Other options include radiation and hormone therapy.
National Cancer Institute
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Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma (PDQ): Treatment
(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/thymoma/patient
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/pdq/tratamiento/timoma - What Is Thymus Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_1x_what_is_thymus_cancer_42.asp?sitearea=&level=
- Can Cancer of the Thymus Be Found Early?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_can_thymus_cancer_be_found_early_42.asp?sitearea=cri
- How Is Thymus Cancer Diagnosed?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_how_is_thymus_cancer_diagnosed_42.asp?sitearea=cri
- How Is Thymus Cancer Staged?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_3x_how_is_thymus_cancer_staged_42.asp?sitearea=cri
- Treatment of Thymus Cancers by Stage and Type(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Treatment_Options_by_stage_42.asp?rnav=cri
- What Are the Risk Factors for Thymus Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_2x_what_are_the_risk_factors_for_thymus_cancer_42.asp?sitearea=ped
- What Should You Ask Your Doctor about Thymus Cancer?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_5x_what_should_you_ask_your_physician_about_thymus_cancer_42.asp?sitearea=cri
- Atlas of the Body: The Endocrine System(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/MedLB/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZW5TZ46JC&sub_cat=514
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Thymus Neoplasms(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Thymus+Neoplasms%22
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Postthymectomy myasthenia gravis: relationship with thymoma and antiacetylcholine receptor antibody. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18721587&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: The role of surgery in the management of thymoma: a... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18640366&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Imaging of mediastinal tumors. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18619217&tool=MedlinePlus
- Thymus Cancer -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=thymus+neoplasms[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
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Dictionary of Cancer Terms(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary/
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National Cancer Institute Cancer Centers Program(National Cancer Institute) - http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/NCI/cancer-centers
Also available in Spanish http://www.cancer.gov/espanol/instituto/hojas-informativas/programa-centros-oncologicos
- American Cancer Society - http://www.cancer.org/
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National Cancer Institute - http://www.cancer.gov/
- What Are the Key Statistics about Thymus Cancers?(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/cri_2_4_1x_what_are_the_key_statistics_for_thymus_cancer_42.asp?sitearea=&level=
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Childhood Cancer: Lymphoma(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/cancer/cancer_lymphoma.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/medicos/cancer_lymphoma_esp.html
- Cancers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cancers.html
- Endocrine System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/endocrinesystem.html
- Immune System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/immunesystem.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Thymus Cancer is the National Cancer Institute - http://www.nci.nih.gov/