I have not been diagnosed as having cancer, however, I seem to have a habit of acquiring rare diseases.
In 2018 I acquired Myasthenia gravis, I had my thymus checked then by CT scan. There was enlargement but it was deemed then that it was likely to be benign and because of my age (65) I was not suitable for thymectomy.
Not happy with just having MG, I also acquired COPD and Bronchiectasis around the same time. Last year I managed to get Covid 19 and after struggling to fight the infection had to be admitted to the hospital for 5 days.
One good piece of luck, the treatments I was given worked surprisingly well despite being written off when I was first admitted because of the complications of pneumonia and sepsis.
That was almost a year ago, I think that may have been a trigger to stimulate cancer cells in the thymus. I had what I thought was a chest infection they usually clear up after treatment, the trouble with bronchiectasis is you can retain bacterial infections so by February it seemed I was back to square one only this time, three courses of different antibiotics have not rid me of all the symptoms of infection. I have also been coughing up blood, not major amounts.
I have a hoarse speech for over three weeks. All these are indicators that there is something going on beyond a chest infection. I believe that I am on the beginning of my journey with thymic cancer but I am pretty sure it won't be a long one.
It is not the fear of dying that concerns me but the quality of life I expect to have to endure if I have treatment.
Thanks for listening
