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Shortly after my 70th birthday I had an X-ray at my local hospital in Crewe because of a little irritating cough. The X-ray showed an abnormality. I then had a CT scan and a thymoma was diagnosed. I was referred to Wythenshawe hospital where I saw a thoracic surgeon who wanted a biopsy because he was unsure if I had a thymoma or a lymphoma.
The biopsy confirmed it was the former and in July, six weeks after the CT scan, I was admitted for a sternotomy operation. The ‘thymoma’ was in fact thymic carcinoma – it had broken out of its casing and affected a small part of my heart covering, a small bit of lung and a vein running under my diaphragm. All affected tissue was removed, and I spent three nights in hospital.
I was discharged with painkillers, injections to prevent blood clots and equipment to blow into to regain lung power. I had a few uncomfortable nights propped up in bed, but I very soon began to take short walks and within six weeks was back to country walks and driving. I only learned about the extent of the operation when I saw the surgeon for a follow up appointment. He was confident it had all been removed and felt no further treatment was required but referred me to an oncologist at The Christie for a second opinion. It was at this appointment I learned it had been a Stage 3 cancer and radiotherapy was recommended as a precaution. In November I began five weeks of daily radiotherapy, with weekend breaks, making 25 sessions in all. I now have CT scans every six months.
The only time I’ve met anyone with the same cancer was at an event organised by Thymic UK with specialists as The Christie. The exchange of information on the ThymicUK Facebook page has also been helpful. The biggest shock of the whole experience was finding out I had such an advanced cancer without having any major symptoms, but I appreciate that my experience has been a lot easier than that of many others.
