Sternotomy is where they crack your breastbone (or sternum) and open you up - just like open heart surgery.

1. Yes
2. Malignant tumor - Stage II - FYI, scan didn't show any problems with thymus.
3. Sternotomy
4. Hard to say if it helped or not - was under a lot of stress at the time and had to go throuh radiation, etc. Am doing okay now with other meds, but it has been almost 8 years.

Good luck - it's a decision only you can make.