Symptoms of thymus cancer

Thymus cancer may not cause any signs or symptoms in its early stages. Signs and symptoms often appear as the tumour grows and causes changes in the body. In some cases, symptoms can be caused by substances released by a tumour (called a paraneoplastic syndrome) . Other health conditions can cause the same symptoms as thymus cancer.

The signs and symptoms of thymus cancer include:

• a cough that doesn’t go away
• chest pain
• difficulty breathing
• a hoarse voice
• loss of appetite
• difficulty swallowing

Horner syndrome is also a sign of thymus cancer. It is a rare condition that affects the nerves of the eyes and causes small pupils, a drooping eyelid, sinking of an eyeball into the eye socket and less sweating on the face

In some cases, thymus cancer or its treatment can cause serious problems.

Superior vena cava syndrome is a group of symptoms that may develop when a thymus tumour presses on the superior vena cava, which is the large vein that carries blood from the upper body to the heart. Symptoms of superior vena cava syndrome include:

• swelling of the face, neck, arms and chest
• difficulty breathing
• headaches
• dizziness

Superior vena cava syndrome is an emergency that needs to be treated right away. Find out more about superior vena cava syndrome.

A paraneoplastic syndrome is a group of symptoms caused by substances released by a tumour or by an abnormal immune response to a tumour. Paraneoplastic syndromes can disturb the normal function of many different parts of the body. They may be the first sign of a cancerous tumour.

The following are the most common paraneoplastic syndromes associated with thymoma tumours.

Myasthenia gravis is a rare autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness. The body’s immune system makes antibodies that block or change some of the nerve signals to your muscles, making them weak. Symptoms include:

• weakness in the neck, arms and legs
• drooping eyelids
• vision problems, such as blurred or double vision
• a hoarse voice
• difficulty speaking
• difficulty chewing and swallowing
• difficulty breathing

Pure red cell aplasia is a rare condition in which the bone marrow doesn’t make enough red blood cells, causing anemia. Symptoms include:

• fatigue and a lack of energy
• pale skin
• weakness
• difficulty breathing
• dizziness

Hypogammaglobulinemia is a condition in which the body doesn’t have enough B cells. As a result, there are less gamma globulins in the blood to fight infections. Most people with hypogammaglobulinemia have recurrent infections, especially lung infections.