So I saw my surgeon yesterday...He told me that my thymoma is 5cm...The size of a golfball...He said that it's not horrible but not very small either....He said that I can have the surgery where they slice down the centre of the chest or the one where they slice just underneath the breasts to get it out....

Has anyone had the slice underneath the breasts? He said that it's a bit more painful...I wasn't too concerned with the scar before as I figured I had no choices, but now I'm wondering whether maybe going with this type of incision is better (scar-wise).


Anyone have a similar 'slice'?

P.S. Sorry for the use of the word 'slice.' :S lol


Nicky

Hi Nicky,

I had it done through the chest, but I just wanted to say I am so sorry you got such bad news and need surgery. I'm sure others here will be able to help you. I will keep you in my thoughts & prayers. We are all here for you. Take care.

Hugs,
Pat

I had no choice, mine was the size of a baseball. The surgeon had to split my sternum full length.

Less invasive is always better. Double-check with your surgeon that he is absolutely confident he can get it all through the smaller incision and if he is that's how I'd go. From what I've read, and discussed with my sister in law (who is a nursing teacher) the less invasive method is quite a bit more painful in the short term. However, it does heal much faster (and you don't have to contend with the split sternum ) I'd say the scar is, or should be, the absolute least of your worries.

Best of luck with your decision.

Brian

Nicky, I've shared my "gory" details with you through PM. But I'll share with all that I had my chest split. My thymoma was smaller than yours. I have never heard of the under the breast way before. I thought there was a method where they went through your neck ( I think), the DaVinci method.

I have a 7 inch scar, that too was not a big concern for me.

First off, th GOOD news! I believe that people with thymomas are more likely to go into remission once the tumor is removed - I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong - but I think that the remission rate is MUCH higher - much higher than those of us who do not have them, so YAY!

I had the transsternal op - splitting of the breastbone b/c I was told that it was the better option - if there is any of the thymus there it can (in theory) grow or drop the remission rate. That is why I opted for it - even though it hurt like heck!

When do they want to do the surgery? You want to have the BEST surgeon available, b/c this is not a common surgery @ all, but once that thing is removed you will feel GREAT! You'll have to spend some time in ICU and be intubated (@ least I was) but am so glad that I had the surgery done.

Big, big hugs!
Erin

Hey Nicky

sorry about the news about your thymoma.
I had my chest split, wasn't given any other choice.

I agree with Brian, as to asking your surgeon about getting it all through a smaller incision.

Wil be thinking of you through this time
take care
Kate

Hey guys,

Thanks for the supportive posts, and sorry I didn't get back faster...I've sorta been digesting all this, and lurking a bit...

The other incision the surgeon was suggesting is one where they basically follow the under-curve of the breasts...So it's a horizontal cut just under the breats. It's also a long scar, but it's not visible if wearing a low-cut shirt or bathing suit. The doc. said that the healing period is more painful, but it's just as convenient for him to do this cut as the vertical one going down the centre of the chest...The increase in pain is the only real downside.

I'm still not sure what I'm going to do...I'm scheduled to have another CT scan done, this time with contrast, to see if the tumor has attached itself to other organs (something like that)....

I've been doing a lot of research on all of this stuff...I'm so confused...I wonder why this happened...I honestly think the thymus is the culprit in a lot of autoimmune diseases, only in the sense that it's not functioning 'properly.' I was reading that the thymus is responsible for 'educating' T-cells in preventing autoimmunity. Basically, a thymoma creates many T-cells without the ability to let 'them' know that they shouldn't be mean to Nicky's body parts! lol

Anyway, wouldn't I still need my thymus? Without it, would I have more issues with autoimmunity since I no longer have a control centre for preventing it? I wish they could just take the tumour, leave the thymus, and my tumour-factory would behave and all'd be well! lol

Anyway, end futile insanity rant! lol

P.S. thanks again for listening!

You only need the thymus while your immune system is still immature, so until you're in you mid to late teens.

If the doctor is confident, I'd go with the less invasive of the two methods. They can always give you morphine for the pain

Cheers,

Brian.

Nicky I had some of the same thoughts you did, but mine were after the fact. My main thought was if the thymus gland controls the immune system what is going to happen when I don't have one? So far so good, but I put my trust in my dr.

don't forget to make a list of ?s even if they sound silly-if you're worried you should get an answer and then you will feel better!!![even if you don't like answer now you have one more thing to check off list] good luck!!