Thymus gland cancer treatment at GenesisCare

At GenesisCare we diagnose and treat a wide range of cancers, and we understand that this can be a very worrying time. Our diagnostic services are first-class, and our commitment is to give you the answers you need, as quickly as possible. It’s important to remember that symptoms can often be caused by other conditions, not thymus gland cancer. Whatever your diagnosis we can make sure you get the expert care you need and without delay.

If you’re concerned about possible Thymus gland cancer symptoms, we offer fast access to specialist thymus gland cancer diagnostics and expert consultants who specialise in conditions affecting areas in the head and neck, such as the thymus, throat and mouth. They’ll assess your symptoms and, if necessary, refer you for diagnostic tests such as an X-ray, CT scan, PET scan or biopsy.  

There may be no obvious signs of thymus gland cancer at first, and it may only be found by chance during a chest X-ray for another problem. If you do develop symptoms, they may include:

• Chest pains 
• A persistent cough 
• Breathlessness 
• Swallowing difficulties 
• A hoarse voice and fatigue 

In some cases, you might develop a swelling in your neck called a superior vena cava obstruction (SVCO) due to the tumour pressing on blood vessels in your chest. 

If you have any concerns, you should seek medical advice or book an appointment through our Rapid Access Head and Neck Service.

Our consultants have close relationships with expert surgeons from both local and nationally renowned hospitals and will work together with other cancer specialists to decide the best course of treatment for you. If your consultant recommends thymus gland cancer surgery, this can be arranged conveniently at one of our partner hospitals. You can then continue your other treatments at GenesisCare. 

There are various different procedures for thymus gland cancer surgery. Your surgeon will recommend the most appropriate technique depending on the size and stage of your tumour. 

No treatment is without side effects. Your doctor will explain these to you, together with the ways your treatment plan and supportive care can help manage or minimise these.

At GenesisCare, we are the leading private provider of radiotherapy in the UK and offer world-class expertise, state-of-the-art facilities and advanced radiotherapy techniques. Our latest-generation radiotherapy machines (called linacs) deliver highly targeted radiation beams that are designed to be effective while minimising the radiation dose to healthy tissues.

Your treatment will be governed by our expert multidisciplinary teams (MDTs), consisting of oncologists, radiotherapists and medical physicists. They’ll work together to ensure that you receive only the best possible care. 

Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is a modern radiotherapy technique that directs beams of radiation in an arc across the treatment area. Together with surface-guided radiotherapy (SGRT), it’s possible to precisely target areas of cancer, adjusting the beam and intensity of the radiation dose to allow for movements in the body and avoid healthy tissues. Side effects of radiotherapy occur when healthy tissues receive radiation, so using this technique helps to limit the dose to tissues and organs surrounding the tumour. At GenesisCare, we offer VMAT wherever possible because it is widely recognised to be the highest standard of care currently available for patients needing this type of radiotherapy.

No treatment is without side effects. Your doctor will explain these to you before you start your course of radiotherapy, together with the ways your treatment plan and supportive care can help manage or minimise these.

Our centres have all received the Macmillan Quality Environment Mark to reflect the quality of care we provide for people living with cancer.

There are different types of drug treatments, also called systemic anti-cancer therapies. Our expert teams continually review and assess new treatments to make these available to GenesisCare patients as early as possible.

Chemotherapy for thymus gland cancers

Chemotherapy uses of cytotoxic (anti-cancer) drugs that destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy for thymus gland cancers can be delivered on its own or in combination with radiotherapy (chemoradiation). It may also be delivered before surgery to shrink the size of the tumour before its removal or after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence.  

Palliative care 

If your cancer has spread to other parts of the body, it’s called advanced or metastatic thymus gland cancer. At GenesisCare, you can receive palliative drug treatment for advanced thymus gland cancer, to reduce the size and progress of your cancer and ease any symptoms.  

Personalised medicine

For some advanced cancers we use specialist tests, such as liquid biopsy or genomic testing, to understand the genetic make-up of cancer cells. This helps us to identify which drugs are available to work against the particular genetic mutations in a cancer, allowing us to start effective treatment without delay. 

There may also be opportunities to access clinical trials for the newest treatments for thymus gland cancer.

Drug treatment side effects

No treatment is without side effects. Your doctor will explain these to you depending on your drug treatment, together with the ways your treatment plan and supportive care can help manage or minimise these.

Our dedicated cancer centres are convenient and easy-to-access. You can use your private medical insurance, and we‘re recognised by all leading insurers.

We‘re proud that so many patients rate our care as excellent as we help them through their cancer journey. Find out more about the unique experiences of people who have had their cancer diagnosis or treatment at GenesisCare in our patient stories section.