Thymus
The gland that protects you long after it’s gone - Robert Sargis MD PhD
image by: HWN
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An Overview of the Thymus
When it comes to the thymus we usually are dealing with thymomas, myasthenia gravis and on the rare occassion thymic cancer. But actually the thymus plays a very important role...
The thymus gland will not function throughout a full lifetime, but it has a big responsibility when it’s active—helping the body protect itself against autoimmunity, which occurs when the immune system turns against itself. Therefore, the thymus plays a vital role in the lymphatic system (your body’s defense network) andendocrine system.
Before birth and throughout childhood, the thymus is instrumental in the production and maturation of T-lymphocytes or T cells, a specific type of white…
Featured
Origins of immune system mapped, opening doors for new cancer immunotherapies
Cell atlas of human thymus could help engineer improved therapeutic T cells.
Articles of Interest
Scientists Create Working Organ From Scratch For First Time Ever
In what's being hailed as a scientific first, researchers in Scotland have created a fully functional organ from scratch inside the body of a living animal. The feat--the creation of a working thymus gland from "reprogrammed" embryonic cells--is seen as an important step toward the development of
Thymoma
Thymomas are slow-growing tumors, and the prognosis is excellent when they are discovered in their early stages. 5 year survival for thymoma patients receiving modern treatment approaches 80%. Those with the more rare form of the disease called thymic carcinomas have a more aggressive disease with 5 year survival even with treatment of only about 40% on average.
Thymomas: A Continuing Challenge
Controversies still remain, but the rarity and heterogeneity of these tumors limits research and obviates the possibility of large randomized clinical trials. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment, but often radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy is required.
Thymus: Facts, Function & Diseases
Though the thymus is a little-known organ in the body, it does some very important things. It is part of the lymphatic system, along with the tonsils, adenoids and spleen, and it's also part of the endocrine system.
Resources
Foundation for Thymic Cancer Research
To support patients with thymic cancer by fostering research and awareness of this aggressive, difficult-to-treat, and little-understood disease.
German-French Society for Thymus Therapy
The Society attempts to make thymus and cell factors better known among therapists and patients by explaining their positive effects.
Thymic Disorders Program
The Thymic Disorders Program in the Massachusetts General Hospital Division of Thoracic Surgery provides expert treatment for complex thymic disorders.
Walter, my thymoma tumor
Walter is the name of my thymoma tumor that was living in me for an unknown time. This is a blog to tell that story of God’s provision and the wonderful family and friends that are taking good care of me.
Cancer.net
About 30% of people with thymoma also have a condition called myasthenia gravis. Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder caused by antibodies or T-cells that attack molecules, cells, or tissues of the person producing them.
Macmillan Cancer Support
Thymus gland cancer is cancer that starts in the thymus gland. This information is about two types of thymus gland cancer, called thymoma and thymic carcinoma.
National Cancer Institute
Thymoma is linked with myasthenia gravis and other autoimmune diseases.
