Treatments for thymus cancer

If you have thymus cancer, your healthcare team will create a treatment plan just for you. It will be based on your health and specific information about the cancer. When deciding which treatments to offer for thymus cancer, your healthcare team will consider:

type of thymus cancer
stage
your overall health
what you prefer or want

Alberta Health Services. Thymic Neoplasms Clinical Practice Guideline LU-008 (Version 2). 2012: http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/hp/cancer/if-hp-cancer-guide-lu008-thymic.pdf.
American Society of Clinical Oncology. Thymoma. 2016: http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/thymoma.
Cameron RB, Loehrer PJ, Lee PP . Neoplasms of the mediastinum. DeVita VT Jr, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg SA. Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 10th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2015: 43:560-569.
Cancer Care Ontario . Evidence-Based Series 7-11: The Management of Thymoma – Guideline Recommendations (Summary) . Version 2 ed. 2014 : https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en.
National Cancer Institute. Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma Treatment (PDQ®) Health Professional Version. 2015: https://www.cancer.gov/types/thymoma/hp/thymoma-treatment-pdq.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Thymomas and Thymic Carcinomas (Version 1.2017). 2017.
Penn Medicine . All About Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma . University of Pennsylvania ; 2016 : https://www.oncolink.org/.
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Clinical Practice Guidelines: Lung Site - Thymoma. 2015: http://www.uhn.ca/PrincessMargaret/Health_Professionals/Programs_Departments/Documents/CPG_Lung_Thymoma%20.pdf.

Treatments for stage 1 thymus cancer

The following are treatment options for stage I thymoma or thymic carcinoma. The types of treatments given are based on the unique needs of the person with cancer.

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Treatments for stage 2 thymus cancer

The following are treatment options for stage II thymoma or thymic carcinoma. The types of treatments given are based on the unique needs of the person with cancer.

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Treatments for stage 3 thymus cancer

The following are treatment options for stage III thymoma or thymic carcinoma. The types of treatments given are based on the unique needs of the person with carcinoma.

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Treatments for stage 4 thymus cancer

The following are treatment options for stage IV thymoma or thymic carcinoma. The types of treatments given are based on the unique needs of the person with carcinoma.

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Treatments for recurrent thymus cancer

There are no standard treatments for recurrent thymoma or thymic carcinoma. The types of treatments given are based on the unique needs of the person with cancer, where the cancer has recurred and treatments given before.

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Surgery for thymus cancer

Surgery is the primary treatment for thymoma or thymic carcinoma. Surgery is used to potentially cure the cancer by completely removing the tumour.

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Radiation therapy for thymus cancer

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays or particles to destroy cancer cells. It is usually used to treat thymus cancer.

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Chemotherapy for thymus cancer

Chemotherapy may be used to treat thymoma or thymic carcinoma.

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Follow-up after treatment for thymus cancer

Thymoma and thymic carcinoma behave differently in each person, and a standard follow-up schedule would not work for everyone. People with thymoma or thymic carcinoma should talk to their doctor about a follow-up plan that suits their individual situation. Follow-up for thymus cancer is often shared among the cancer specialists and your family doctor.

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