Shelley what did you think of Dr. Loehrer?

Hi Allison I'm seeing. Dr Loehrer and he is awesome

Welcome to Connect, @lizah,

Have you been diagnosed with Thymoma/Thymic Carcinoma? We sincerely look forward to getting to know you.

Hi, I was diagnosed with thymoma stage IV on feb 2016 and red cell aplasia 5 months after my quemo on November 16 and neutropenia 3 months ago. All this related with the thymoma

I couldn't finish my last reply, I'm 42 and the thymoma I had, is, at least for now inoperable, Everything started by the end of feb 2016 with a pleural effusion, they put me a catheter in my lung and after a biopsy they were between linfoma and thymoma,finally Drs diagnosed thymoma stage IV, I had 4 months of quemo and the thumor kept stable until the end of october, when my hemoglobine went to 5, so Dr here in Florida (University of Miami) ordered a CT Scan, he found out the tumor started to grow again, they did a lot of blood test to figure out what happened with my hemoglobine and I decided to see Dr Thymoma in Indiana (Loehrer). He and is colleague Dr Robert Nelson (hematologist and inmunologist) explained to me that I had red cells aplasia from my bone marrow and acute anemia, it as a consequence of the thymoma. They gave treatment and I got much better. The thymoma shrunk and my bone marrow started to produce red cells again. On march 2017 my white line from my bone marrow (neutrophils) stopped, I had to go again and receive besides my normal treatment something calls atg. The problem is that my t cells (which are trained in the thymus) attack my bone marrow, it is a very rare consequence but it happens in some cases.
In this moment, I feel great. I love dr Loehrer and Dr Nelson, both are incredible and very knowledge doctors, right now my platelets are kind of low (around 30) but I guess nothing to be worry about. My next follow up is in october. In the meantime I have to check my blood every two weeks.
I hope I can have surgery one day

@lizah
I loved your statement "in this moment I feel great" because that is all we have ...this moment. I have to be truthful. I am getting frustrated with the Mayo clinic and the plan of action or lack of I am getting. I have a new Dr. AGAIN, I have seen him once and he seems fine except he said my next appt. would be 6 months out instead of 3. That its self has been nerve wracking, waiting and thinking those extra months. of course I know he wouldn't do it if he thought my recurrence was more active and growing faster than what we have seen. But that is just it...things can change so quickly. I am confused also why I do not see an appt. set yet???? 6 months is first week of Aug. and I see no apt on my schedule????? They haven't done a biopsy this time because of the risk, complications with the lungs and placement of four tumors, and because all but one Dr. was 100% all four spots were not sarcoidosis and WERE thymoma. Have been weening off prednisone but no weight is coming off.... AUGH !!!!
Am grateful for what I can do right now I am going out to water my garden !!!

I understand when you say you are nervous about waiting 6 months for your new appointment, it actually happens to me also, my next CT will be in October, but on the other hand it means that we can wait, nothing is gonna happen until then (hopefully) so in the meantime we NEED to enjoy the great moments cause our lifes are a roller coaster today we feel great but we don't know about tomorrow, in my case, because of the thymoma, I developed an autoimmune condition and my T cells decided that my bone marrow is an enemy and they attack my cells red and white. It's call aplasia

My husband has been fighting Squamous Cell Carcinoma since 2014. We have relocated to Jacksonville twice for treatments. One thing we learned is never, ever let scheduling make appts for you. Call the doctor's office directly and make an appt. Don't wait, as it could have fallen through the cracks. I have nothing but the highest praise for Mayo, but you must be proactive.

@lizah
I have heard a bit about aplasia but will have to do a search and learn more. and yes I agree , one of the good things about 6 months is nothing is happening...no decisions to be made etc.
Do you have the guilt of what this has done to your family? I can't imagine being told ( a few times ) that your wife is dying make final arrangements. Yet other times I feel I have to remind him I AM THE ONE DYING he really complains about taking me to Dr. appts.
Well everyone have a wonderful 4th !!!! We are so lucky we have the health care available to us that we do!
I am headed over to see 3 of my 5 grandsons

@allisonsnow Your posts are always inspiring. I'm glad that you are part of Mayo Connect. I hope you have a great visit with your grandsons. Teresa