Possible thymoma diagnosis

Hi everyone, hope you're doing well :love:

My name is Angela, I'm 25 and I've recently been told there's a high chance I have a thymoma.

These are the symptoms I'm currently experiencing:
- chest and back pains (constant, dull - at times sharp when taking a deep breath)
- that pain sometimes spreads to my right shoulder, right side of my neck, and top of my arm
- shortness of breath
- feeling of pressure in my chest when laying down on my back or right side (only sometimes)
- a bit of a dry cough
- "crackly" feeling in the middle of my chest
- palpitations

It all started 3 weeks ago with the back and chest pain, I originally thought it was a pulled muscle or a messed up nerve from work. After a chest x-ray and a CT scan, they said they found an anterior mediastinal mass (lump in the chest). One of the doctors I spoke to said it's very likely a thymoma. I haven't spoken to anyone about the lump, or seen any images, so I'm not sure exactly where it is (although I'm assuming it's on the right side of my chest) or how big it is. 

I've been for a biopsy two days ago and I'm now awaiting those results... I'm very very nervous. 
I just need someone that's going through it/has gone through it to talk with, share my experience with, and ask questions to :cry:
 

  • Hi Angela, sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

    I've been through similar 2 years ago. Had dull aching in my right shoulder blade for a while, after many trips to physio, etc went for a scan and turned out to be a thymoma. It appears the pain was coming from the thymoma being on a nerve.

    it's was quite a scary time, had the operation and today it's all a distant memory. If you want to chat or have any questions get in touch.

     

     

  • Hi Joshj, thanks for the reply!
    Hope you're doing well :happy:

    I am still waiting for the results to come through, it's SO nerve wracking!
    Your experience with pain in your right shoulder blade is exactly what I'm experiencing, hence why I first thought I pulled a muscle or something from all the pushing and heavy lifting I do at work.

    How was the whole surgery experience for you?
    I'm quite worried as I don't know what to expect...it's a scary thought having to go through that, from the anaesthetics, to the recovery afterwards.
     

  • Hey

    i was told the pain was from tumour wrapped around the phrenic nerve.  That ended up being removed which worried me pro op, but I was walking around the park a few weeks after and a few years on you wouldn't even believe I had a surgery other than the scar.