Thymectomy for a 78 year old?
 

Hi everyone,

I'm here on behalf of my 78 year old mother who was diagnosed with MG in September 2014. The hospital is suggesting a thymectomy after a tiny benign growth on her thymus was spotted on her CT scan.

She is relatively fit but her neurologist is already hinting at a transsternal thymectomy which looks rather brutal and high risk :s

Does anyone have any advice to give at this stage - why have they not suggested the minimally invasive (transcervical) route at the outset??

Mum is currently on 60mg mestonin and coping well with the condition but with a degree of tiredness.

Any help appreciated..

Josh

Welcome barbs son. :Wave-Hello:

Hi, Josh. Welcome!

I'm sorry your mother has been diagnosed with MG. There's a lot to learn about it!

www.myasthenia.org
www.mdausa.org

They can't tell by CT or MRI whether the growth is benign or malignant, unfortunately. Do you have a copy of the report? If not, get it.

There's absolutely no reason why they should crack open her sternum, unless they suspect that it's cancer or that it has spread! Surgery, especially for someone older, can cause as many problems as MG itself. And, yes, it is a high risk, even if she's relatively healthy. Pneumonia as a complication after surgery is a real possibility, especially in a hospital setting.

A second opinion would be a very smart thing to do, especially from a cardiothoracic surgeon who has done the other methods of thymectomy!

If she is tired, please have her B12 checked!!! That deficiency is very common. Has she had her thyroid checked, too?

There isn't enough research to show that having a thymectomy at her age will help her MG. It might, but it's really a matter of opinion. Again, that second opinion by another surgeon would help.

Did they even mention trying any other drug treatment? Is she generally weak? Is she short of breath? Please think ten times before even considering steroids! The cancer risk at her age is greater. Does any kind of cancer run in your family?

They could try IVIG for her.

There are things that can make MG worse, such as hot weather, certain drugs, lack of sleep, doing too much, etc. Again, read up on the disease so that she can be as strong as possible.

Please let us know what other questions she or you might have, ok?

Annie