What kind of doctor treats thymus cancer?
What kind of doctor treats thymus cancer?
Thoracic surgeon: a surgeon who specializes in chest surgery. Radiation oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with radiation therapy.
How long do you live with thymic carcinoma?
Survival rates can give you an idea of what percentage of people with the same type and stage of cancer are still alive a certain amount of time (usually 5 years) after they were diagnosed….5-year relative survival rates for thymus cancer.
| SEER Stage | 5-Year Relative Survival Rate |
|---|---|
| All SEER stages combined | 71% |
Is thymic carcinoma curable?
If the recurrence is not too widespread, surgery may be an option and would offer the best chance for long-term survival. But in most cases, the treatment options are limited to radiation therapy and/or chemo. These treatments can often help control the cancer for a time, but they are very unlikely to result in a cure.
Can you survive thymic carcinoma?
If the thymic cancer is located only in the thymus, the 5-year survival rate is 93%. If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 79%. If the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, the 5-year survival rate is 40%.
What is the treatment for Thymus Cancer?
Doctors use a physical exam, imaging tests, and a biopsy to diagnose thymus cancer. The most common treatment is surgery to remove the tumor. Other options include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy.
How common is Thymus Cancer?
Although thymic tumors are the most common tumors in the anterior mediastinum (the front part of the chest cavity), overall they are rare. They occur at a rate of only 1.5 cases for every million people each year in the US. This works out to about 400 cases per year (the exact number diagnosed each year is not known).
Where does thymic carcinoma spread to?
The process used to find out if thymoma or thymic carcinoma has spread from the thymus to nearby areas or other parts of the body is called staging. Thymoma and thymic carcinoma may spread to the lungs, chest wall, major vessels, esophagus, or the lining around the lungs and heart.
Is thymic carcinoma hereditary?
No specific inherited, environmental, or lifestyle risk factors have been strongly linked to thymoma or thymic carcinoma. Some studies have suggested a possible link with exposure to radiation to the upper chest area, but this has not been confirmed. The only known risk factors are age and ethnicity.
Can thymic carcinoma spread to the brain?
Although uncommon, patients with advanced thymic carcinoma can develop brain metastases. Appropriate imaging and aggressive treatment should be considered for these patients.
How is thymic carcinoma treated?
Five types of standard treatment are used:
- Surgery. Surgery to remove the tumor is the most common treatment of thymoma.
- Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.
- Hormone therapy.
- Targeted therapy.