About cancer
The thymus gland is in your chest, in between your lungs.
A gland is an organ in your body that makes and releases substances such as .
The thymus gland is part of the . It makes a type of white blood cell called a T lymphocyte. These white blood cells are part of your . They help fight infections.
There are 2 main types of thymus gland cancer:
thymomas
thymic carcinomas
These types of cancers develop in the cells that line the thymus gland. These are called .
Doctors put thymomas into different groups based on how the cells look under the microscope. There are 2 main types, A and B.
Type A thymomas usually grow slowly, but type B can grow quicker. They can spread to the lungs or the covering of the lungs (pleura). But it’s unusual for them to spread anywhere else in your body.
Like many other cancers, we don't know exactly what causes thymomas.
Up to 50 out of 100 people with thymoma (up to 50%) have symptoms of myasthenia gravis (MG). MG is a rare condition that affects the immune system and causes muscle weakness.
Thymoma is also linked to other diseases, such as:
red cell aplasia
hypogammaglobulinemia
Thymic carcinomas are much rarer than thymomas. They often grow more quickly. They are more likely to spread to other parts of your body such as the bones and liver. Because of this, they are usually harder to cure.
Thymus gland cancer is rare. In the UK, around 380 people are diagnosed with thymus gland cancer each year. This includes thymoma and thymic carcinoma.
Thymomas and thymic carcinomas are more common in people between the ages of 40 and 60. But younger people can also get these cancers.
Often thymus gland cancer doesn’t cause any symptoms. Doctors find them by chance when you're having tests for something else. When they do cause symptoms, it’s usually because the cancer has grown to press on nearby areas in the chest. Symptoms can include:
chest pain
a cough that won’t go
shortness of breath
hoarseness of the voice
The thymus is close to a large blood vessel in the chest. This is called superior vena cava. This vein carries blood to the heart. Thymus gland cancer can press on it and cause superior vena cava syndrome. Symptoms can include:
swelling in the face, chest and upper neck
shortness of breath
chest pain
Your doctor will arrange for you to have tests if you have symptoms of thymus gland cancer. One of the first tests you might have is a . You may also have:
blood tests
Your doctor might take a of the cancer. You might not need a biopsy if they think that it’s very likely that you have thymus gland cancer based on your scans and blood tests results.
Find out more about tests to diagnose cancer
A team of doctors and other professionals discuss the best treatment and care for you. They are called a multidisciplinary team (MDT). They then discuss your treatment options with you.
The main treatment for thymus gland cancer is surgery. This gives the best chance of curing the cancer, if possible.
The treatment you have after surgery depends on:
the type of thymus gland cancer you have
how far it has spread (the stage)
whether the surgeon can completely remove the cancer
You might have if your surgeon is not able to completely remove the cancer. Or if there is a high risk of the cancer coming back.
After surgery, you usually have one of the following:
radiotherapy alone
and then radiotherapy
Sometimes the surgeon is unable to completely remove the thymus gland cancer. This might be because the cancer has already spread too far. Or you are not well enough to have surgery.
If this happens, your doctor might suggest you have chemotherapy first. Chemotherapy can help to shrink the cancer. You then may be able to have surgery, if possible.
You may also have radiotherapy as your main treatment if you can’t have surgery.
The most common surgery for thymus gland cancer is a thymectomy. Your surgeon makes a cut down the middle of the chest to remove the whole of the thymus gland. They may also remove part of nearby organs such as the:
lungs
layer of tissue covering the heart (pericardium)
Sometimes you might have or robotic surgery instead. This means that your surgeon makes small cuts (incisions) rather than a large cut. They then carry the surgery out through these small cuts.
Read general information about having surgery
Radiotherapy means the use of radiation, usually x-rays, to treat cancer cells. You have external radiotherapy to treat thymus gland cancer. External radiotherapy uses a machine from outside of the body. It directs radiation beams at the cancer to destroy it.
You usually have radiotherapy every weekday, for 4 to 6 weeks.
Read general information about radiotherapy
Chemotherapy uses anti cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. You usually have a combination of different chemotherapy drugs. These include:
etoposide and cisplatin (EP)
paclitaxel and carboplatin (PC, CarboTaxol)
gemcitabine and capecitabine (GemCap)
cisplatin, etoposide and ifosfamide (VIP)
cisplatin, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (CAP)
doxorubicin, cisplatin, vincristine and cyclophosphamide (ADOC)
cyclophosphamide, vincristine and dacarbazine (CVD)
Check the name of the chemotherapy treatment with your doctor or nurse, then find out about it on our A to Z list of cancer drugs.
A to Z list of cancer drugs Read general information about having chemotherapy
Unfortunately, if your thymus gland cancer comes back, it can be difficult to get rid of it altogether. Treatment can often keep it under control for some time. You might have:
surgery to remove the cancer
chemotherapy
The treatment you have depends on how well the cancer responded to previous treatment. Your doctor will be able to tell you more about what treatments you may have.
Coping with a diagnosis of a rare cancer can be especially difficult. Being well informed about your cancer and its treatment can help. It can make it easier to make decisions and cope with what happens.
Talking to other people who have the same thing can also help.
Our discussion forum Cancer Chat is a place for anyone affected by cancer. You can share experiences, stories and information with other people.
You can call our nurse freephone helpline on 0808 800 4040. They are available from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Or you can send them a question online.
Contact our cancer information nurses
ThymicUK is a support group for people with cancers of the thymus gland. They aim to address the feeling of isolation that can come with a rare disease. They share information and experiences as well as support each other.
Last reviewed: 10 Apr 2025
Next review due: 10 Apr 2028
Rare cancers affect a small number of people. In the UK and Europe experts say it is rare if fewer than 6 in 100,000 people are diagnosed each year. Find out more about rare cancer.
Coping with cancer can be difficult. There is help and support available. Find out about the emotional, physical and practical effects of cancer and how to manage them.
Treatments can include surgery, radiotherapy and drug treatments (such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy or targeted cancer drugs). Find out about treatments and how to cope with side effects.
Cancer affects family and friends too. Get tips on how to support someone with cancer and how to take care of yourself.
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This page has been written, reviewed and updated by Cancer Research UK’s Patient Information Web Team. Thanks to the expert medical professionals and people affected by cancer who have helped to review this information.
Professor Sanjay Popat (Consultant Medical Oncologist)
Our lay reviewers
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