Thymic Carcinoma

Often, the first signs of thymic carcinoma are chest pain, a cough that won’t go away and shortness of breath. Maybe you’ve already gone to your primary care provider (PCP) to see if you have a heart problem. But the tests they ordered pointed to something else — thymic cancer.

It’s important to understand there are two kinds of thymic cancer — thymic carcinoma and thymoma. Both are rare cancers that affect your thymus gland. But thymic carcinoma is much more aggressive. It’s more likely to spread (metastasize) beyond your thymus, requiring a different treatment from thymoma.

So, it’s important to get a diagnosis from a team with experience with both kinds of thymic tumors. Whether your PCP referred you to us, or you picked up the phone and made an appointment yourself, we’re here to help you take the next step.

What to expect at your first visit

When you first meet with your provider, they’ll spend some time getting to know you. The best way to do this is to sit down with each other and talk. Your provider will answer your questions and listen to your concerns. And they’ll want you to share your story, asking questions like:

• What are your symptoms?
• When did your symptoms start?
• Have your symptoms gotten worse?
• How have your symptoms been affecting you?
• Do you have any other health conditions?
• Is there a family history of cancer?

During your visit, your provider will do a physical exam. And they’ll order tests to help them learn more about what’s happening. Tests let them confirm a diagnosis and know whether it’s a thymic carcinoma or thymoma. And they help them see where the tumor is, how big it is and if it’s spread (cancer staging). Tests you may have include:

• Chest X-ray.
• CT scan (computed tomography scan).
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
• PET scan (positron emission tomography scan).
• Biopsy.

Second opinions for thymic carcinoma

A cancer diagnosis can be a real shock. And it can leave you feeling anxious and overwhelmed. So, you’ll want to be sure you’ve chosen the right care team — one that’ll listen to your concerns, answer your questions and give you the best possible care. That’s why we encourage second opinions.

We’re here for you. We take the time to explain treatment options and offer our expertise. And because we know that cancer doesn’t wait, we always try to schedule your appointment with us as soon as possible. A second opinion can give you peace of mind, knowing that you’re in the most capable, compassionate hands.

Meet Our Thymic Carcinoma Team

Cleveland Clinic’s team-based approach to care means you get the most personalized treatment possible. Depending on your specific needs, you’ll see providers from different specialties — all picked based on your unique diagnosis. Your team may include:

• Oncologists.
• Hematologists.
• Pulmonologists.
• Cardiologists.
• Cardiothoracic surgeons.
• Radiologists.
• Pathologists.
• Nurse practitioners.
• Physician assistants.

Many things play a part in how we create your personalized treatment plan — the cancer’s stage, if it’s new or has come back (recurred), your overall health and your treatment goals. Your care team considers all these things as they work to create a treatment plan that’s best for you.

Surgery

Surgery is the main thymus cancer treatment. We use imaging scans to find out if we can safely remove the tumor (or as much as we can) with a thymectomy. We may also have to remove your thymus gland along with lymph nodes, blood vessels, nerves or tissues around your heart and lungs. At Cleveland Clinic, we have experience doing even the most challenging cardiothoracic surgeries for thymus cancer — like tumors growing around coronary artery bypass grafts (CABGs).

Radiation therapy

Your provider may recommend that you have radiation therapy to shrink the tumor before surgery or destroy any remaining cancer cells afterward. You may have radiation as a standalone treatment — or combined with systemic treatments that destroy cancer cells throughout your body.

Systemic therapy

You may also need treatments that kill the remaining cancer cells, like:

• Chemotherapy.
• Immunotherapy.
• Targeted therapy.

Palliative care

Cancer often comes with symptoms and treatment side effects that you may need to manage. Our palliative care experts are here to help you do that — in a way that works best for you.

Taking the Next Step

A rare cancer diagnosis doesn’t mean you’re out of options. Cleveland Clinic specializes in treating cancers of all kinds and at all stages, including thymic carcinoma. When you come here for diagnosis and treatment, we’ll work with you to find the best treatment options for your unique needs and goals. We’re here to support you throughout this journey not only with the latest therapies but also with compassion, hope and an eye on your future.