Supportive care for thymus cancer
Supportive care helps with the physical, practical, emotional and spiritual challenges of cancer. This important part of cancer care focuses on improving the quality of life of people with cancer and their loved ones, especially after treatment has ended.
Adjusting to life after treatment is different for everyone. Your recovery will depend on many different factors, such as where the cancer was in your body, the stage of the cancer, the organs and tissues removed during surgery, and the type of treatment and side effects.
If you have been treated for thymus cancer, you may have the following concerns.
Worrying that the cancer will come back
Thymomas can come back (recur) up to 20 years after treatment. This is why lifetime follow-up is recommended for people treated for thymoma.
It can be very stressful living for such a long time with the possibility of the cancer coming back, and going for regular doctor’s appointments may make it harder. It may be a constant reminder of the possibility of recurrence. But regular follow-up with your doctor and other members of the healthcare team increases the chance that the cancer will be found earlier, when it is easier to treat.
You can use these visits to discuss your concerns and ask questions. Report any signs and symptoms that may suggest the cancer has returned as soon as possible. Find out more about the symptoms of thymus cancer.
You may want to talk to a counsellor or a close friend if fear of the cancer coming back is stopping you from moving forward. You can also join a cancer survivor support group or online community. Talking with others who have the same fears may be helpful.
Find out more about worrying that the cancer will come back.
Second cancers
People who have been diagnosed with thymoma are at a greater risk of developing a second cancer. This risk seems to be the same if you are treated with a thymectomy (complete removal of the thymus) or radiation therapy to the chest, or if you have a history of myasthenia gravis.
The second cancers that can develop after thymoma are:
Studies have suggested that people who have thymoma may have a higher risk for other types of cancer, but there is not enough evidence to definitely link them to thymoma.
Find out more about second cancers.
Questions to ask about supportive care
To make decisions that are right for you, ask your healthcare team questions about supportive care.
Your trusted source for accurate cancer information
With support from readers like you, we can continue to provide the highest quality cancer information for over 100 types of cancer.
We’re here to ensure easy access to accurate cancer information for you and the millions of people who visit this website every year. But we can’t do it alone.
Every donation helps fund reliable cancer information, compassionate support services and the most promising research. Please give today because every contribution counts. Thank you.