Since there is a lot to know about treatment options, so we’ll take it step by step
There are five types of standard treatments used:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Targeted therapy
There are also new treatments constantly being tested, usually drugs already used for other diseases that are in clinical trials for thymoma and Thymic carcinoma. Each trial has a set of qualifications that enrollees must have. Some trials require a certain type or stage of cancer. Others want patients who have already been unsuccessfully treated with standard methods. Others may want patients who are untreated. This is something you need to discuss with your medical team.
We will look at each of these treatment options in more detail the following pages.
Treatment By Stage
There are standard protocols established for diagnosing and treating thymic tumors. These protocols are outlined in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network practice guidelines.
The NCCN guidelines are a great resource for doctors and patients alike. You can learn more about the guidelines un Patient Resources, or click HERE
Stage I Thymoma
Surgery
Stage II Thymoma
Surgery, which may be followed by radiation therapy.
Stage III and Stage IV Thymoma
Tumors that may be completely removed by surgery
Surgery followed by radiation therapy.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery and radiation therapy.
Tumors that cannot be completely removed by surgery
Chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery (if operable) and radiation therapy.
Thymic Carcinoma
Thymic carcinoma that may be completely removed by surgery
Surgery followed by radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy.
Thymic carcinoma that cannot be completely removed by surgery
Chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy with radiation therapy.
Chemotherapy followed surgery, if the tumor may be completely removed, and radiation therapy.
Recurrent Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma
Treatment of recurrent thymoma and thymic carcinoma
Chemotherapy
Hormone therapy (octreotide) with or without prednisone
Targeted therapy
Surgery
Radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy with pembrolizumab.
Other clinical trial as appropriate