Thymic Malignancies

Most patients with thymus cancer do not experience symptoms during the early stages of the disease. The symptoms begin to develop when the tumor starts interfering with the functioning of organs in the chest. The symptoms of thymus cancer include:

• Pain in the chest
• Difficulty breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty swallowing
• Persistent cough
• The feeling of continuous pressure in the chest
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• Continuous weakness, tiredness, and fatigue
• Cough that may or may not have bloody sputum
• Weakness in chest muscles
• Hoarseness

In some cases, increased secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone results in diabetes, increased facial and body hairs, and darkened or thin skin.

When the tumor compresses the vena cava, the patients may experience dizziness, neck and facial swelling, arm and hand swelling, headaches, and veins visible in the upper body.