Thymoma

Hi and welcome to the online community

I hope your wife's surgery went well and she's recovering. 

I haven't had this procedure so can't offer any advice but I noticed that your post had gone unanswered. By replying it will push it back to the top of the page where someone who has had this might see it and reply.

While you're waiting for replies you could use the search facility in this group to look for previous posts that talk about having a thymoma. You could also give the Macmillan Support Line a call on 0808 808 0000 and speak to one of the specialist nurses. It's free to call and available from 8am to 8pm daily.

Sending you both my best wishes

x

Hi

Hope your wife is OK.  I was found to have a similar sized thymoma in early 2017 - had keyhole surgery to remove it followed by Radiotherapy for a month.  Prior to the Radiotherapy, I was warned of lots of side effects, but these were minimal.  Kept waiting for awful stuff to happen, but it was nothing major. Recovery from the surgery itself was slow, and not without problems, but I got there in the end.  I now go to the hospital ever three months, to see the surgeon, then 3 months later to see the oncologist, then again to the surgeon.  I have x rays and a yearly scan.  When the tumour was removed it was ruptured, so there was a chance of spillage of the cancer cells, but so far, nothing has shown.

Its a really scary time for both of you, but hang in there.  Its not easy, and sometimes the worry of it all can get to you, I  was so worried that it was really causing me problems, this time last year was not good.  I am doing very well now and can honestly say that life is great.

Best wishes

D

Hi,

Thank you for your reply. My wife had the tumour removed by keyhole surgery I believe they were able to remove it cleanly only taking a small part of the bag the heart is in. Recovery is progressing well and she  comes home this afternoon. The surgeon had said if it comes out clean there will be no need for further treatment, only follow up checks. So have my fingers crossed. 

You look after yourself live life and do everything that you dream of.

Alan x

Thank you for your thoughts, all going very well so far. She has been very lucky that the Tumour was spotted by the Biobank team before it was too invasive. Fingers firmly crossed. 

• Hi everyone sorry for not being online for a some time.
  This is a good news story, Anne had a successful operation and we had our 6 week holiday in New Zealand, only weeks after. She was suffering with shortness of breath and post op pain. A high dose of anti-inflamatories caused more shortness of breath, apparently the drugs were reacting with her asthma.
  We visited the hospital on our return Anne was worried that the operation has reduced her lung capacity, the consultant observed a semi inverted diaphragm. After another visit to the operating hospital she was advised that an air bubble in her gut was causing this. The operation required the deflation of the lung and inflation of the chest cavity to conduct the procedure. The air left in the cavity takes some time to work its way out of the body.
  After a year she is back to full fitness running, swimming and cycling. She has been back to the hospital for monitoring and has the all clear.
  Massive big thank you to the Biobank who spotted Anne’s tumour before she had any symptoms, and to James Cook hospital Stockton-on-Tees who operated very quickly and successfully.
  I hope others have successful outcomes to.
  Also thank you folk who supported me in my hours if darkness.

It's lovely to hear a good news story !

Sounds like a great holiday you were able to go on as well

Wishing you both all the best

x

Thank you 

Hi sorry for asking but im new to the forum and saw your post did your wife have any kind of systoms  before this was found . I have just undergone surgery for thyroid cancer in June and I have notice swelling where thymus is in chest and I didn't know what to do

Hi Deb, She was completely unaware of the tumor until it was discovered when we both had body scans for the Biobank Research. In reflection it appears that Anne was having abnormal hot flushes which she wrote off as the menopause. Hot flushes can be a symptom of cancer but not everyone knows.

Alan

Thank you for getting back to me Alan I have hot flushes but I am going through menopause cause I had hysterectomy  . Im glad your wife is doing great send my love and best wishes . Im getting ultra sound done on thymus and im in James Cook for radioidone  therapy  on 26 Nov so im nervous and anxious but not much I can do till have test .